ACCRINGTON Stanley notched a fifth successive home win in League Two with a 1-0 victory in an uninspiring match against Crewe Alexandra.

Kayden Jackson’s goal proved the difference between the teams as Stanley at times laboured against an Alex side who deserved at least a point.

The Reds started full of endeavour and attacking threat, with a string of balls going into the Crewe box and shots repelled by the visiting defence.

Weekend hero Jordan Clark whistled a cross narrowly wide of the far post before threading in Jackson who, from a tight angle on the right, beat Ben Garratt but saw his shot slide agonisingly wide.

Crewe had the ball in the net early on courtesy of Shaun Miller but he was offside and David Artell’s side struggled to make an impact in the opening exchanges.

Stanley’s early efforts brought plenty of pressure but nothing to test Garratt as Liam Nolan and Clark both had attempts repelled by defenders.

Crewe did begin to create chances, with Jordan Bowery having the best as he turned Mark Hughes only to shot straight at Aaron Chapman, while Paul Green fired into the side netting.

But John Coleman’s side saw their patience rewarded four minutes before the break when the Clark-Jackson combination bore fruit at last.

Clark was tenacity personified to nick the ball from Perry Ng down the right and he fed it to Jackson in the area. Once again faced with a tight angle the striker got picked out the bottom left corner.

The visitors went close to levelling straight after half time when Bowery held the ball up and played Charlie Kirk into the area on the left only for Chapman to get down well and parry his shot.

In contrast Coleman’s team found opportunities limited, with Clark denied at the last by Zoumana Bakayogo and the same player heading a Scott Brown cross into Garratt’s arms.

Artell’s men remained largely on top and were very close to levelling when Kirk was picked out by Miller and his shot beat Chapman but Hughes cleared off the line.

Bowery then missed a gilt edged chance when Kirk’s shot deflected to him inside the box but the striker fired wide.

The visitors posed plenty of questions as they pressed late on but Stanley stood firm to make it five home wins on the spin for the first time since 2011.

Stanley: Aaron Chapman, Harvey Rodgers (Erico Sousa 68), Mark Hughes, Jimmy Dunne, Janoi Donacien, Jordan Clark, Scott Brown, Liam Nolan, Callum Johnson, Kayden Jackson, Billy Kee. Subs not used: Ben Richards-Everton, Offrande Zanzala, Danny Willilams, Jonny Maxted, Charlie Rowan, Seamus Conneely.

Attendance: 1,254