Carlisle 2-4 Crewe: Alexandra survive fightback to move top of League Two

Two late Crewe goals thwarted a Carlisle fightback to win 4-2 at Brunton Park and move top of Sky Bet League Two..

The visitors looked comfortable after Nicky Hunt and Daniel Powell fired them into a 2-0 lead.

However, Carlisle battled back to draw level in a thrilling second half, when Hallam Hope and Christie Elliott were on target, only for Alex to have the final say with Chris Porter's strike and a Gethin Jones own goal.

Crewe's early pressure was rewarded with a seventh-minute goal after Tom Lowery's free-kick from wide on the right caught the Carlisle defence napping.

Byron Webster was unable to deal with an awkward bounce and Hunt pounced to steer the ball home from six yards.

Crewe doubled their lead when a lightning break gave Powell the chance to race away and he arrowed a superb 18-yard shot across Adam Collin and into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Carlisle needed something positive to raise their spirits and it came in the 59th minute, when substitute Stefan Scougall's run gave Jack Iredale the opportunity to send in a low cross which Hope was able to slide home from close range.

Iredale was again the provider when Carlisle equalised five minutes later. His cross found its way to Elliott, who volleyed past Dave Richards from six yards.

Alex regained the lead in the 78th minute, when James Jones made a quick impact from the bench, whipping over a cross that Porter forced home for his sixth strike of the season.

Crewe settled a fluctuating contest in the 85th minute, when a cross from Perry Ng looped into the net via deflection off Gethin Jones.

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