Match report | Crewe 0 Stockport 2
Source: Crewealex

In an edgy and tense affair, the visitors were able to edge ahead through a Kyle Wootton header on 66 minutes.

And as the Alex looked for a way back in the closing stages Tanto Olaofe pounced to double the County lead.

It was tough to take for The Railwaymen who gave everything in front of the biggest crowd of the season.

But Lee Bell's men's 14-game unbeaten home run has come to an end at the hands of the League Two leaders, who have now won nine of the spin.

The Alex were certainly not disgraced and they will take it on the chin and prepare for the weekend's trip to Harrogate.

Bell made one enforced change to the side that won at Crawley, after Joel Tabiner (ankle) failed a fitness test.

Mickey Demetriou was recalled and the Alex switched to a back three, with Joe White dropping deeper in midfield.

Stockport were without injured ex-Alex promotion hero Nick Powell but fielded fellow former Crewe man Antoni Sarcevic in midfielder.

The opening stages were fast and frenetic with both sides searching for composure as the big crowd created noisy atmosphere.

It wasn't until the 19th minute that the deadlock was threatened, and it was Rio Adebisi's flicked header from a Jack Powell free-kick that went narrowly wide.

County grew in strength. Sarcevic fizzed a low effort well off target from an angle, and Olaofe tamely shot into the arms of keeper Harvey Davies from a good position towards the end of the half.

Olaofe darted in behind Offord soon after the restart and Davies was out smartly to block, and then the keeper came and claimed the resultant corner.

With just over half an hour to play Powell picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Matus Holicek. Skipper Luke Offord - outstanding on the night - pushed into midfield as they switched to 4-2-3-1.

But on 66 minutes the visitors hit the front when they took a quick corner and Odin Bailey hung up an inviting cross for Wootton to head home.

Sub Elliott Nevitt headed wide from an Adebisi cross as the Alex looked to hit back, while Olaofe could not convert from a few yards out at the other end.

But the County forward did put the game to bed in the 89th minute when his team won the ball high up the pitch and he twisted and turned before rolling it home.

Crewe (3-4-3): Davies; Williams (Cooney, 70), Offord, Demetriou; Adebisi, Powell (Holicek, 58), White (Nevitt, 70), Williams; Tracey, Long, Baker-Richardson.

Subs not used: Booth, Rowe, Colkett, Lunt.

Booked: Long, Nevitt.

Stockport (5-3-2): Hinchcliffe; Hales, Wright, Horsfall, Pye, Bailey (Knoyle, 73); Collar, Croasdale, Sarcevic (Hippolyte, 88); Olaofe, Barry (Wootton, 24).

Subs not used: Smith, Madden, Pond, Richardson.

Booked: Wootton.

Referee: Martin Woods.