HOMEGROWN youngsters Steve Foster and Dean Ashton ensured it was all quiet from the Preston front at the Alexandra Stadium on Saturday.

Ashton made an immediate impact and Foster an even more telling late one as Crewe banished memories of being doubled by the Lilywhites last term.

The Alex's threat from set pieces saw them stretch their unbeaten league run to four games. George Burley, manager of the Ipswich side given a fright night in the Worthington Cup last Tuesday, admitted afterwards that Crewe's aerial ability had come as something of a surprise.

And Preston were caught cold in the 32nd minute, just 240 seconds after Ashton's introduction.

Kenny Lunt's quickly-taken free-kick released Rodney Jack and after skipping past Rob Edwards, Jack reached the by-line to cut back a pacy cross which was volleyed home by the 17-year-old.

He had been brought on in a bid to change Crewe's way of playing after Preston began brightly, pressurising the home side into giving up possession and threatening to score when they got the ball.

Although Crewe's compact units of two banks of four often crowded out the visitors' attacking intentions, they found enough joy in the opening 20 minutes to force Ademole Bankole into three excellent saves ­- two denying Jon Macken and the other Paul McKenna.

The battle for supremacy in the centre of midfield was an intriguing aspect of the match and the unsung running of Neil Sorvel and the increasing influence of Dave Brammer proved a match for North End's highly-rated partnership of Sean Gregan and Mark Rankine.

Yet a slip in concentration from the much-improved Efe Sodje allowed Macken to spin off him four minutes into the second period and Bankole had to make another fine reflex save.

The visitors finally found a way past the big Nigerian to draw level on the hour. Graham Alexander got in behind Shaun Smith to cross the ball back from the same position that Jack had created Crewe's opener, and although Bankole got a palm to Rankine's cushioned volley, the effort crept inside the far post.

Crewe responded well and produced a strong display in the final half-hour. Ashton came close with two cameos of his precocious talent ­ a 25-yard snapshot with minimal back lift which whistled over the bar, and an overhead scissors kick which was also fractionally too high.

But if Ashton made an impressive return to league action, his strike partner Rob Hulse deserves plenty of plaudits as well. Fast-developing into the consistent target man every manager must crave, the strength and skill shown in his hold-up play made Hulse a real handful for former Alex defender Michael Jackson and his central defensive partner Chris Lucketti.

Indeed, Hulse might have scored the winner himself, twice springing the offside trap, but he failed to find the finish.

Even so, alarm bells were ringing ever louder for Preston and Brammer was also denied by the legs of keeper Tepi Moilanen, while Sodje showed his threat from set pieces when he headed just wide from a corner.

And having survived a late free-kick at the other end, the scene was set for Foster's dramatic intervention. Lunt's delivery was perfect and the young defender stole a yard on his marker to head home the final touch of the match and send the Alex fans into rapture.