TWO wins in five days for Crewe FC put a smile back on manager Ian O'Reilly's face.
A poor mid-season run ensured they wouldn't be challenging for promotion, but O'Reilly's men have hit form of late.
A last-minute Dave Hanson strike secured a 3-2 win in a close game with Whitchurch Alport on Wednesday and three more goals saw off Lostock Gralam on Saturday.
O'Reilly said: 'It wasn't a particularly good game to watch, Lostock were very physical and would try anything to stop us playing.
'It was 0-0 at half time, so I just told the lads to keep doing what I asked of them and they got their just rewards in the second half.'
PJ Hudson, who is being targeted by bigger non-league clubs, finished off a good move involving Hanson and Danny Massey on 55 minutes before Richard Ingemann added a second from a Massey cross.
Substitute Steven Parker, who hit the bar with his first touch, was on target soon after when he scored the third after being set up by Hanson. Lostock netted a consolation 10 minutes before the end.
O'Reilly said he was pleased with recent results.
He added: 'We're on a bit of a roll but I'm disappointed we're not in the race for promotion. We went nine games without a win which has cost us dear.
'I look back at those games and think 'what happened?' We missed out on the top places when it really mattered.'
Crewe face third-placed Club AZ tonight (Wednesday) at the Cumberland Arena and host Congleton Town Reserves on Saturday.
