Crewe 5-0 Morecambe: Alexandra crush sorry Shrimps at Gresty Road

Crewe moved back into the top three of League Two after a crushing 5-0 victory over struggling Morecambe who had skipper Alex Lavelle sent off.

Oli Finney, Tommy Lowery and Charlie Kirk struck in the first half for the Railwaymen, whose effortless march to their 10th success of the campaign was helped when defender Lavelle received a straight red card for a stupid lunge on Harry Pickering deep in the home half.

Ryan Wintle and Finney completed the scoring after the break.

Crewe threatened from the off with Lowery curling wide and Finney's deflected effort landing on the roof of the net. But the youngster was soon marking his first league goal, heading Wintle's cross powerfully past Mark Halstead in the 22nd minute.

Halstead tipped Kirk's effort around the post, but the keeper was helpless when Lowery's 20-yard drive took a big deflection and flew past him for the second after 31 minutes.

Morecambe's plight deepened with Lavelle's dismissal three minutes later and the Shrimps were soon three down when Kirk's low curling effort found the bottom corner seven minutes before the break.

Crewe picked holes through the visitors' depleted numbers at will and could have had more before the break with Lowery's rising drive thumping the post and Pickering striking the bar.

After the restart substitute Jordan Cranston posted Morecambe's first effort on target but keeper Will Jaaskelainen easily fielded the midfielder's long-range shot.

At the other end Lowery was thwarted by Halstead's close-range block. But there was no stopping Wintle inflicting more damage with the midfielder finding the top corner with a thumping strike in the 58th minute.

Kirk curled a late effort onto the far post before Finney netted his second when firing home from 15 yards in stoppage time.

No international break for Super 6

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