CREWE FC secured their biggest win of the season when smashing Warrington side Greenalls Padgate St Oswlads 5-2 at the Cumberland Arena on Saturday.

Greenalls had the opening opportunity to score.

Striker Gavin Horner blazed over from eight yards out after Alex Hardman's stinging shot across the rain-soaked surface was parried into his path by the keeper.

By the time Greenalls had their next effort on goal, Crewe were 2-0 in front.

Mike Blundell, who put three goals past Greenalls on their last visit, drew first blood.

A long clearance from a GPSO corner was miscontrolled by Rob Clarke, allowing Nathan Southern to pick up the loose ball and he was adjudged to have been fouled 19 yards out. Blundell made no mistake with a well-placed free kick into the top left corner of Conor Yarwood's net.

Greenalls then had Yarwood to thank as Southern broke through the defence only for the outstretched keeper to deny the forward with a great save and smother the ball.

It was soon 2-0 though.

Another mix-up by Greenalls allowed winger George Ward to break clear down the right. He advanced past the defence and although his initial chip over Yarwood hit the post the defence failed to react and the winger followed up to tap home.

This did spur the visitors on and they had their best passage of play for the final 10 minutes of the half.

Ellis Houghton was played through by Lee Vaughan but he failed to lift the ball over the oncoming keeper.

Then a great deep cross by Gaz Johns led to a goalmouth scramble that saw Greenalls hit the bar from close range.

Conditions got worse at half time, puddles forming on the pitch, but Greenalls started brightly although it was Crewe who took their chances.

A deep cross found McNicholl unmarked at the back post to casually head home and Blundell soon made it 4-0 with a mirror-image goal.

With 30 minutes remaining Josh Kavanagh and Adam Whitty entered play off the Greenalls bench and livened the side.

Whitty played through Johns, who was brought down in the area, and Ben Slater made no mistake from the spot.

Within five minutes it was 4-2 as a Crewe player handled the ball in the area and Slater again sent the keeper the wrong way.

The greens piled on the pressure as the hosts struggled to get out of their half.

Chances fell to Horner and Vaughan but the Crewe defence held strong.

In the 90th minute Blundell’s superb solo effort completed his hat-trick and signed off the game.