CREWE FC's outstanding cup form continued with a convincing win over their derby rivals. But boss Ian O'Reilly would swap it all for league points.

O'Reilly's side eased into the final of the Crewe FA Cup with a goal in each half of a poor game against a very young Town side at Jackson Avenue on Saturday.

The victory means they will face Alsager Town Reserves in the final in May. The Cumberland Arena club will also bid for another semi-final spot this Saturday, when they face Witton Albion Reserves in the quarter-finals of the Mid Cheshire League President's Cup.

O'Reilly is delighted at the prospect of silverware but admits it is Mid Cheshire League Division One safety he really craves. 'We are on a really good run of results and to progress in cup competitions is always nice,' he said.

'But I would honestly swap cup wins for league points. We have good confidence and belief now, and we need to move away from danger. But at the moment we are just playing cup games!

'We will take each game as it comes and take the cup matches as seriously as any. Hopefully, winning games in the cup will help us when we do eventually return to league action.'

In a game of little quality on a difficult pitch, Daniel Athorn's header from Liam O'Reilly's corner opened the scoring. In-form Danny Massey added a second after the break, after Martin Caldwell flicked on for him to fire home.

But Crewe suffered a blow when Massey was stretchered off with an ankle injury near the end. The club is awaiting medical reports to assess the damage.

O'Reilly said: 'We did not play very well and I am disappointed in that.

'Nantwich had some decent players and worked hard, but they were very young and we out-muscled them really.

'We did look dangerous from set-plays when we haven't really all season, so that was a plus. I feel we can do a lot better and the lads know it, but a win is a win and we move on.

'Hopefully we can get a result this weekend and then get back to the league.

'I don't care what anyone else does, I think seven wins from our last 12 games will see us safe.'