A wet and murky afternoon at Crewe awaited the Rovers as they travelled to play the last match before Christmas. The Rovers manager, Sean O'Driscoll, made three changes from last Sunday's line-up against Yeovil Town for today's game against Crewe Alexandra. James Coppinger and Paul Green came in for Martin Woods and Mark Wilson, who both drop to the bench and Jason Price starts in preference to Lewis Guy, who also finds a place on the substitutes bench.  Gareth Roberts, recovered from injury, takes the last place as a substitute as the Rovers look to get back to winning ways. Their task is not impossible judging by Crewe's record of four losses, two at home, and one draw from the last five games.

The Rovers started in lively fashion winning a corner in the first 30 seconds and then another one from which Price fired over the bar as they dominated the first five minutes. Then, on 6 minutes, Miller, for Crewe got in a strike which Sullivan could only save with his legs at the expense of a corner. The next few minutes saw the home side on the attack and winning their first corner. On 14 minutes, following a corner to the Rovers, Lockwood headed against the bar and Steve Roberts at the far post put the ball over the bar. Two minutes later good work by Green on the right was followed by Coppinger putting back to Price but he fired into the ground letting Williams save easily. Over the next few minutes, Hayter had a couple of efforts, a 25 yarder going wide and a fierce drive from 15 yards over the bar. On 25 minutes, Michael O'Connor, for the home team had a shot from 25 yards saved well by Sullivan. As the half hour came up Stock and Hayter had shots blocked. Wellens played Price in but his flick goalwards was cleared off the line by Baudet. Over the next ten minutes the Rovers dominated play and they were rewarded on 40 minutes when Coppinger, from distance, had a shot blocked. Hayter got the ball and played PRICE in and he did the necessary by planting the ball past Williams for the opening goal. It should have been two a minute later as Coppinger broke into the Crewe penalty area but a good tackle by Baudet saved the day for the home team. The Rovers went into the break leading by the single goal.

Crewe came out determined to get something from the game but within minutes the status quo had been imposed. Twice in the first five minutes Price fired over the bar. Then, on 50 minutes, PRICE beat the offside trap and went through to stroke past the keeper for his and his team's second goal. The Rovers were now totally in command. A couple of corners, some good play and shots going wide were the order of the day for the Rovers. On 66 minutes, Price beat Hayter to a through ball but his first touch was a bit heavy and Williams came out to tackle him. Price picked up the loose ball on the right, gave to Hayter in the middle but a defender tackled as he shot so that a corner was the only result. A shot at goal at this stage from McCready on the home left was greeted by ironic cheers from the home fans and it was easily saved by Sullivan. On 75 minutes, a free kick to the home side on their left was headed under the bar by O'Donnell but Sullivan showed great reflexes to tip it over the bar. Two minutes later, Gary Roberts received a second yellow card followed by the red and took a long walk off the field. The Rovers were now full of confidence and playing some scintillating football against a totally demoralised Crewe side who were to have two more goals against them. On 90 minutes, GREEN finished off a good move by rifling into the roof of the net for number 3 and in the second minute of added-on time GUY cut in from the Rovers left to calmly slot past Williams for a fourth.

A comprehensive and thoroughly deserved victory for the Rovers, who served up some outstanding football and the four goal margin certainly didn't flatter them. It could have been more.

Teams - Crewe Alexandra - Ben Williams; Daniel Woodards, Gary Roberts, Neil Cox, Julien Baudet, Michael O'Connor, Chris McCready, Daniel O'Donnell, Elliott Bennett, Nicky Maynard, Shaun Miller

Subs used - Lee Barnard for Bennett 67 mins; James Bailey for Woodards 88 mins;

Subs not used - Ben Rix, Ryan Lowe, Byron Moore.

Cautions - Gary Roberts, Miller, Gary Roberts.

Sent off - Gary Roberts 77 mins.

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Steve Roberts, Adam Lockwood, Sean McDaid; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Richie Wellens, Brian Stock; James Hayter, Jason Price

Subs used - Mark McCammon for Price 81 mins; Lewis Guy for Hayter 85 mins; Martin Woods for Stock 88 mins;

Subs not used - Gareth Roberts, Mark Wilson.

Cautions - Steve Roberts.