BATTLING Crewe FC took four points off two of Division One's top teams - but left boss Ian O'Reilly positively fed-up.

The revitalised side came back from 2-0 down to grab a point at third-placed Curzon Ashton in midweek, and did they same to take maximum return at leaders Broad-heath on Saturday.

After embarking on a run of five games undefeated - straight after suffering eight consecutive defeats - most managers would be delighted.

But ambitious O'Reilly groaned: 'It's a bit sickening really. All the teams at the top are dropping points and we are too far away to do anything about it.

'I think it is about habits. They were used to losing but now they don't know when they are beaten. They fought back from 2-0 twice in the last two games and that's a great quality to have.'

Crewe were 2-0 down within six minutes at Curzon, and keeper Steve Harding saved a penalty on the quarter-hour mark.

At the break, O'Reilly switched to four up front and it paid off when Danny Massey kicked off a busy few days for himself after the restart.

Richard Ingemann got the equaliser on 72 minutes, and while there were further chances at both ends, 2-2 seemed a fair result.

After a goalless first half at Broad-heath, Massey missed a penalty after fit-again Joey Alcott was brought down, and then scored an own-goal as the hosts went into a 2-0 lead.

But he made amends with a sweet strike across the keeper, and another fine goal by PJ Hudson - described by O'Reilly as 'simply the best' of the season - made it 2-2.

Ingemann was again the man to get the points when he rammed in a super shot from the edge of the box, and Crewe held on.

Whitchurch Alport visit the Cumberland Area tonight (6.30pm) and Crewe travel to Lostock on Saturday.