Crewe 1-1 Fleetwood: Lowe blow for Fleetwood

Ryan Lowe's early strike helped Crewe secure a 1-1 draw with Fleetwood and move them off the bottom of the League 1 table.

The Cod Army, for whom David Ball struck a first-half equaliser, also gave their relegation battle a shot in the arm as they jumped out of the bottom four.

With just two points separating the sides at the wrong end of the table the game was scrappy and error-strewn.

But there was some excellent early finishing with Lowe firing Crewe into a fourth-minute lead with a low shot picking out the far corner.

The lead lasted only six minutes, though, as Ball crashed a shot past Ben Garratt from a tight angle after being set up by Jimmy Ryan.

While Steven Pressley's side were dangerous on the break, it was Crewe who posed the bigger threat in the first 45 with Lowe going close to a second and Billy Bingham forcing two saves out of Chris Maxwell.

When Crewe keeper Garratt lost the flight of the ball after the restart, Eggert Jonsson was left with the goal at his mercy at the far post but directed his header against the woodwork.

Garratt redeemed himself when he came off his line to thwart Ball who was bearing down on goal shortly afterwards.

David Henen wasted the chance to win it for Fleetwood when he broke clear but drove wide of the post in stoppage time.