CREWE FC chief Ian O'Reilly is calling on his players to step up a gear after being relatively unhappy with his team's start to the season.

Despite beating Fearnhead FC 3-0 in their first ever game on the new surface at the Cumberland Arena on Saturday, O'Reilly says the win should have been more convincing.

It followed a 1-1 draw at Tarporley Victoria on Wednesday (23rd) - another game the Crewe FC boss thinks should have reaped a good performance and three points.

Sitting in seventh place in the Second Division, O'Reilly says his players have made hard work of the first four games. He said: 'I was disappointed with the draw at Tarporley. They had one shot and scored and we couldn't finish them off. It was two points dropped as far as I'm concerned.

'Although we won on Saturday we should have had eight or nine and there's no excuses for it. Having said that we haven't played our strongest side yet this season. It's early days but we need to move up a gear.'

Against Fearnhead, a Danny Massey corner was deflected in on 15 minutes before Dave Hanson and Paul Brown added another two to the scoresheet. John Scarlett netted in the draw with Tarporley.

Despite being unhappy with the first four games, O'Reilly admitted he'd been harsh on central defender Nick Butterworth who has had a positive season so far.

He said: 'I'd been giving Nick a bit of a slagging off before the season started but he has proved me wrong in the last few games. He looks like he really wants to be involved more and is playing well.'

Thirteenth-placed Maine Road reserves visit the Cumberland Arena on Saturday. Kick-off is 3pm.