Crewe 4-1 Salford: Railwaymen hammer Ammies in second-half

Crewe produced a powerful second-half display to beat Salford 4-1 and move up to second in Sky Bet League Two.

Adam Rooney punished goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen's error to hand the Ammies a first-half lead as Graham Alexander's side frustrated their hosts with a cautious defensive approach.

But Salford were caught out after the break by some daring attacking play with Chris Porter, Tommy Lowery and Harry Pickering scoring inside 17 minutes.

Midfielder Lowery added a fourth late on as Crewe eased to their seventh win of the campaign.

In the first half Rooney should have made the most of Danny Whitehead's cross hung over the goalmouth, but the striker only managed to glance his header across the face.

The former Aberdeen player capitalised when Jaaskelainen spilled Ibou Touray's driven cross and stabbed the loose ball home from close range five minutes before half-time.

But Crewe surged back after the break and Ryan Wintle crossed for Porter who was free to direct a header into the bottom corner.

Owen Dale thrashed a low shot onto the foot of the far post as cracks appeared in Salford's previous tight rearguard.

Lowery's skilful play conjured a second with the midfielder flicking past the last man and beating Kyle Letheren before Pickering unleashed a fierce drive into the far corner for the third.

After Porter set up Charlie Kirk for an effort which was parried by Letheren, Lowery tapped his second into an empty net eight minutes from time to leave Salford well beaten.