Following promising away wins at Brentford and Port Vale, Crewe failed their Oldham away test this evening. A first-half injury time goal from Oldham striker Chris Porter proved the difference at Boundary Park as Crewe tried to make up ground on the league's inform side. If Crewe are to break into that elusive top six then we will need to improve on our travels and quickly.

As an attacking force at a chilly Boundary Park, Crewe did not conjure up too much to get excited about in the first-half - but certainly improved in the second period to stay in an eagerly contested affair. Our best chance of snatching a point came with 11 minutes on the clock when Oldham's Les Pogliacomi's saved superbly to deny a glancing header from Michael Higdon. It was a wonderful save that was worth a goal for the home side.

Crewe Alexandra welcomed back the experienced Neil Cox and Julien Baudet following their return from recent hamstring injuries. Cox was once again handed the captain's armband with Ben Rix dropping down to vice captain on the evening where he was making his 100^th appearance for the club. The other change in the Crewe Alexandra starting line-up was in goal with current number one Stuart Tomlinson earning a recall ahead of Ben Williams, who was given a run-out in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy victory over Port Vale.

The early minutes of the game saw both sides enjoy moments of good possession but chances were really few and far between. Oldham's Chris Porter did have a sight of Tomlinson's goal in the 6^th minute after the referee had played a good advantage after Rix had tripped Gary McDonald. Porter's final shot with his left foot lacked real pace to trouble the Crewe keeper. Midfielder Richie Wellens did warm the fingertips of Tomlinson a couple of minutes later but again the Crewe youngster was well positioned to make the save looked relatively comfortable.

Oldham were certainly on the offensive a lot more than we were and some of their interchange of passing in and around our penalty area was causing us some early problems. Simon Charlton whistled one just wide before so nearly picking out Porter with a low cross, only for Baudet to cut it out at the crucial moment.

A couple of minutes later, the Crewe defender was making a significant contribution at the other end. The Frenchman rose highest to nod down a Jon Otsemobor free-kick into the six yard box but at full stretch Luke Varney just couldn't reach it a the foot of the left hand post. It was an encouraging sign, as Crewe showed they could have a real presence at set-plays with Baudet and Neil Cox back in the side.

On 19 minutes, Ryan Lowe was penalised for jumping into Wellens some 30 yards from our goal and from the resulting free-kick Chris Taylor just couldn't keep his header down. A minute later we conceded a similar free-kick but on this occasion full back Neal Eardley drilled it straight into the Alex wall. One thing is for certain Dario Gradi was none too pleased that Crewe were continuing to concede cheap free kicks and corners. It only allowed the home side to generate some momentum and bombard our box with crosses.

On 26 minutes, Paul Warne stole possession superbly from the toes of Rix on the edge of the Crewe box, but his executed curler into the top corner lacked the accuracy to force Tomlinson into a meaningful save. Crewe were certainly defending reasonably well but were hardly creating anything as an attacking force.

The first real glimpse of Les Pogliacomi's goal fell to Jack following another floated free-kick from Otsemobor from within his own half. Again Baudet climbed highest to win the header and acrobatically Jack showed that he is capable of changing a tight game in an instant. It was a wonderful effort but just cleared the Oldham crossbar.

Oldham's Gary McDonald was then cautioned for a rather reckless challenge on Gary Roberts as Crewe tried to impose their passing game on the proceedings. Our best hope seemed to be from a set-piece routine though.

A fine interchanging passing from the home side saw McDonald catch a shot on the half volley, but after taking a slight deflection off of Cox, Tomlinson did well to get his whole body behind it. In truth it had been his first major save on a miserable night at Boundary Park.

Going forward, Crewe's passing into the forwards simply wasn't good enough. The ball kept carrying on into no mans land and you could see the frustration growing.

With four minutes to go in the first period, Tomlinson had to save smartly from Chris Porter after the Oldham man tried to lift it over the advanced keeper. He knew exactly what Porter was attempting to achieve and made another excellent stop to deny him the opener. Mostly defending their own box, Crewe were desperate for the half-time interval because we had certainly found it difficult to retain possession in the first 45 minutes. In stoppage time, McDonald lashed another effort over the bar after a chance fell invitingly at his feet on the edge of our box. At that point and despite our sloppiness in our passing going forward, we looked as though we were going to see it out.

Unfortunately that wasn't going to be the case. The Alex defence were caught out following a long headed clearance from Sean Gregan, thus allowing Porter to race clear of last man Otsemobor and lash it into the roof of the net. It was a fine finish from the lively Oldham forward and although disappointing, it must be said that the home side had deserved it for their efforts in the first half.

The second half kicked off in quite horrendous conditions with the wind and rain continuing to swirl around. In the opening couple of minutes though, Varney so nearly raised our spirits after showing good strength up against Oldham's skipper Will Haining - but he couldn't get his powerfully struck shot on target. If Crewe could find the right pass, Varney possessed the pace to unnerve Gregan and Haining.

Almost immediately, the vastly experienced Andy Liddell tried his luck from distance but it sailed harmlessly over Tomlinson's cross bar. Then on 55 minutes, a battling Porter made progress towards the Crewe goal after beating Baudet in the air, but his final shot was wasteful.

In reply, a superbly executed pass from Lowe so nearly saw Varney through but the club's leading scorer couldn't quite trap it under his boot as it skidded on the wet surface. If he had, he would have had been through as was the accuracy of Lowe's delivery. It was certainly better from the visitors.

Otsemobor joined Oldham's McDonald in the book for a push on Liddell and from the resulting free-kick, Eardley against saw his fierce strike blocked, this time by the out stretched leg of Rix.

Billy Jones was then cautioned for a challenge on Liddell after he tried to vain to recover possession on the edge of the Oldham penalty area, after Lowe failed to retain the ball as it was played into him. That proved to be Lowe's last involvement in the game as he was soon substituted for Luke Rodgers, with Jack moving out to the wing. A clearly frustrated Lowe was none too pleased with the decision.

Porter flicked one just wide of the post, with the next goal going to be absolutely vital if it came. At only 1-0, Crewe were not out of the game and Gradi was hoping that the injection of pace from Rodgers could make a difference with just over 15 minutes remaining. He was soon followed onto the pitch by the extra height of Michael Higdon. Jack made way with Rodgers moving out wide.

The home side appealed for penalty when Billy Jones missed a kick inside his 6-yard box. It was difficult to see but the home crowd were certain that Jones had touched the ball with his hand whilst on the sodden floor. If he had handled, it would have been rather harsh.

With the referee not particularly interested in awarding a spot-kick, Varney broke away at pace but his low cross was cut out. A couple of minutes later though, Crewe did force Pogliacomi into his first real save of the evening. Otsemobor did fantastically well to cross from the right hand side, and there was substitute Higdon to meet it perfectly with a glancing header. It was destined for the top corner, until the Australian stopper acrobatically tipped it over his bar. He hadn't had much to do, but when he did, he had responded superbly to deny the towering Alex forward his first goal of the season.

Wellens went close to sealing the three points with a wicked shot but Tomlinson stood firm to punch away the danger. Higdon was lively enough in the closing stages, but Crewe didn't quite get the necessary break to really test Pogliacomi again and Oldham hold out for the three points.

Oldham: Pogliacomi, Eardley, Haining, Gregan, Charlton, Liddell, Wellens (Rocastle 90), McDonald, Taylor, Warne (Wolfenden 90), Porter.
Subs Not Used: Legzdins, Cywka, Edwards.

Booked: McDonald.

Goals: Porter 45.

Crewe: Tomlinson, Otsemobor, Baudet, Cox, Jones, Lowe (Rodgers 67), Roberts, Rix, Vaughan, Varney, Jack (Higdon 78).
Subs Not Used: Williams, Bignot, O'Donnell.

Booked: Otsemobor, Jones.

Att: 4,798

Ref: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).

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