CREWE FC were made to rue a first-half penalty miss but a fightback to earn a draw against Trafford Reserves stretched their unbeaten run to six.

Ian O'Reilly's men were trailing 1-0 at the Cumberland Arena when in-form Lee Westwood was felled in the area. Danny Massey took responsibility but a fine save meant his first ever failure from the spot.

The deficit was doubled soon after a mix-up between Crewe keeper Steve Harding and his defence, but when Massey's header from a Gareth Brookes free-kick was cleared off the line, Daniel Athorn pounced to make it 2-1 at the break.

An even contest produced a high standard of football and the game could have gone either way after the break. Crewe's increasing character saw them draw level with about 20 minutes left, Martin Caldwell nodding home from a corner.

The home side introduced striker Jon Dawson and went three up front in a bid to snatch a win but, although both sides had chances in the dying minutes, it ended all-square.

O'Reilly said: 'It was all about character on Saturday and we are showing more and more, which is very pleasing. Trafford are a good side and I enjoyed watching them play.

'At 2-0 down of course I would have been delighted with a draw, but in the end we were really going for the three points. If Danny had scored the penalty things may have been different, but it is the first he has missed and that can happen.

'That is six games unbeaten and we are doing OK. We need to carry on and turn some of these draws into wins. We have got a tricky President's Cup tie with Gamesley at the weekend so we will give it our best shot.'