Crewe Alexandra 2 Carlisle 1

CREWE Alexandra recorded back-to-back wins for only the second time all season with a confidence-boosting victory over Carlisle at Gresty Road.

Goals from the club’s top scorer Chuks Aneke and Mesca gave Crewe a victory that failed to lift them out of the League One drop zone, though they remain in the division’s bottom four only by goal difference.

Aneke saw an early header tipped on to the crossbar by Manchester United’s on-loan goalkeeper Ben Amos, but was not to be denied after half-time when firing into the far corner to give the hosts the lead.

The result looked safe on the hour mark, when Bradley Inman's cross bobbled to Mesca and the young Portuguese international made no mistakes from close range.

But Carlisle had a sting in their tail.

Tom Lawrence curled in a 25-yard free-kick to leave the Railwaymen fearful of a comeback, but they survived a late barrage to stretch their recent run to just one loss in their last six games.

Crewe Alexandra: Garratt, Tootle, Mellor, Osman, Ellis, Davis, Inman, Grant, Hitchcock (Oliver - 85' ), Aneke (Nolan - 95' ), Na Bangna (Moore - 88' ). Subs: Leitch-Smith, Moore, Ray, Martin, Guthrie, Nolan, Oliver.