Crewe Alexandra lost their crucial relegation clash 2-1 at Scunthorpe United despite on loan striker Nicky Ajose being on target.
The former United loanee cancelled out Luke Williams’ opener on the half-hour but home defender Miguel Llera scored the winner with thirteen minutes remaining.
Scunthorpe enjoyed the best possible start when on loan Middlesbrough forward Williams applied the finish to Paddy Madden’s tenth-minute cross.
Striker Madden soon threatened to added another but the visitors were back level as Ajose got on the end of James Baillie’s low driven cross.
Crewe then almost went in front as Ajose’s excellent free-kick struck the woodwork ten minutes into the second-half.
The visitors also believed they should have had a penalty when Uche Ikpeazu was tripped on the end of a strong run – but the offence was ruled to have initially taken place outside the area.
However, a surging break from Liam O’Neill in the opposite direction then ended with Llera getting the finishing touch for a vital winner.
Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, Brindley, Davey, Llera, Williams, Bishop, O’Neil, Madden, Williams, Hawkridge (Adelakun 72), Taylor (Osbourne 46)
subs (unused): McAllister, Boyce, Olejnik, Kee, Wootton
Goals: L. Williams (10), Llera (77)
Crewe Alexandra: Garratt, Baillie, Davis (Inman 82), Ray, Dugdale, Leigh, Grant, Ness, Turton (Cooper 87), Ajose, Ikpeazu
subs (unused): Shearer, Atkinson, Jones, Haber, Tate
Goals: Ajose (30)
Ref: D. Sheldrake
Att: 3,006
| LATEST ON THE VITAL CREWE FORUMS … |
Looking for a Crewe fan who goes regularly and can give us at Vital Leeds a weekly update on how Nicky Ajose is doing.