Colchester United 3 Crewe Alexandra 1

CREWE Alex squandered a first-half lead as they made the long trip back from Essex empty-handed.

Jordan Bowery put The Alex ahead midway through the first half, bundling over the line after Chris Dagnall had found him in the area.

Bowery shot wastefully wide from Zoumana Bakayogo’s pass before Colchester equalised as Mikael Mandron calmly slotted home at the far post.

Tom Eastman nodded in from close range to give the hosts the lead on the hour mark before Mandron doubled his tally 11 minutes later to seal Crewe’s fate.