Crewe Alexandra missed the chance to move out of the bottom four after losing narrowly to promotion hopefuls Carlisle United this evening. Second half substitute Scott Dobie scored the only goal of the match as John Ward's side move into one of the automatic spots at the top of the table.

Crewe had enough chances to obtain at least a point from a fairly even match with Byron Moore twice being foiled by Kerian Westwood. The youngster had our best opportunity of the night on the stroke of half-time when Westwood blocked two close range efforts with his legs. He also had another good opportunity in the second half to level things but shot straight at the Carlisle keeper following a corner.

Steve Holland was able to name an unchanged side from Saturday's trip to Leeds United, with Kenny Lunt and the on loan Gary Roberts both making their home debuts for the Railwaymen. George Abbey also retained his place at right-back because Danny Woodards has not fully recovered from his tight groin muscle.

Midfielder Steven Schumacher had the first shot at goal after just four minutes following a well-worked short corner involving the two 'debutants' Lunt and Roberts. Crewe actually started fairly brightly with Nicky Maynard just unable to take a couple of decent passes into his stride inside the box.

It was a trend that continued in the early exchanges with two tempting crosses from the on loan Gary Roberts evading everybody inside a crowded penalty area.

Carlisle soon settled down though and Danny Graham shot straight at Ben Williams from the edge of our box before a lapse of concentration from Patrick Boyle so nearly let flying winger Cleveland Taylor get in behind him.

Carlisle's best chance of the first half fell to their leading marksman Joe Garner but he couldn't quite keep his snap shot volley down to really test Ben Williams in the Crewe goal. The game entered a real scrappy phase with the referee's whistle preventing the game from really flowing. The windy conditions and the cut-up pitch didn't help the football either and it became a big stop-start.

With the wind against us, Crewe were finding it increasingly difficult to make inroads into the Carlisle half and it was the visitors who were in control of the later stages of the first period. Peter Murphy tried his luck from long range before it was Crewe who conjured up the chance of the half.

A Kenny Lunt corner was originally cleared by the outstanding Murphy, before being returned into the box by Boyle. A touch on by Julien Baudet fell invitingly to Moore, who really should have scored with the two efforts he had from within the six-yards box. To credit the Carlisle stopper, twice Westwood denied him, but Moore knows he should have tucked away one of the opportunities.

During the interval, Garner was replaced by Dobie and that would prove to be the decisive factor in deciding the outcome of this match. The former West Brom striker was involved almost immediately, shooting just wide of the mark.

On 56 minutes, a fine move from the Alex saw a long pass from Boyle flicked on by Moore and Maynard flashed a volley just over the top. Crewe were also rather unlucky not see anyone connect with a low cross from George Abbey, who was eager to get forward at any given opportunity.

Another advanced run from Abbey saw him link up with Lunt and his cross was headed just wide by Bryon Moore. It was another half chance for the Alex.

On 65 minutes, we nearly conceded a comical goal of the highest order. An Abbey back pass seemed to bobble up en route to Ben Williams and the Alex keeper was mightily relieved to see the ball drift just wide. If it had been on target it would have been a goal reminiscent of the bizarre own goal Gary Neville scored for England in Croatia when Paul Robinson swung his leg and missed his back pass in the European Championship qualifier.

It wasn't too long after Carlisle scored the decisive goal on the night. The first goal was going to be all-important this evening and so it proved on 65 minutes. Boyle surrendered possession far too easily up the pitch, and Crewe were caught out with Taylor crossing for the grateful Dobie. It was a simple goal really and in fairness was the only real occasion that the impeccable Baudet and O'Donnell had let their men go inside the box.

Crewe were now desperately looking for an equaliser and five minutes later Moore had another decent chance to score. A Lunt corner was headed back in by Schumacher into the box, but Moore could only turn and fire straight at Westwood.

That was the youngster's last real contribution of the evening and he was replaced by Tom Pope. He was soon joined on the pitch by Ryan Lowe for Schumacher as Crewe tried to really force the issue in the closing stages.

Carlisle could have sealed the points in the dying minutes when Graham latched onto an under-hit back pass from Baudet but he screwed his shot horribly wide of the empty goal as Ben Williams tried to narrow his angle.

Crewe's best chance of a point came with two minutes left on clock but Gary Roberts' firm header from a Lunt corner was tipped over by the agile Westwood.

Crewe had enough chances to get something from this game but one moment of clinical finishing from the experienced Dobie proved to be the only thing dividing these two sides.