Mark Helm cracker helps Fleetwood edge past Crewe

Mark Helm’s stunning first-half strike ended Crewe’s 10-game unbeaten home league run as Fleetwood won 1-0 at the Mornflake Stadium.

Crewe started strongly with Adrien Thibaut having an early effort deflected wide and Tommi O’Reilly pulling a shot just past the post.

But it was the Cod Army who emerged to take a 21st-minute lead when Helm picked up a rebound inside the ‘D’ and arced a right-footed effort into the far corner beyond Crewe goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.

After that the visitors took a firm grip of the game and should have won by a wider margin.

Elliot Bonds’ volley veered past the far post and then a neat exchange of passes carved out a shooting chance for the same player, who blazed over.

Crewe struggled for inspiration with Reece Hutchinson’s fierce strike, which was blocked by Shaun Rooney, being their only attempt on goal after their early flurry.

Lawlor needed to move smartly off his line smartly to thwart Will Davies, who latched onto a defence-splitting pass from Bonds after the interval.

Fleetwood’s Ethan Ennis found room to cut inside his man and fire just past the post while Lawlor excelled by clawing away Owen Devonport’s lofted effort.

Helm almost picked out the far corner with a long-range effort and Lawlor thwarted substitute Ched Evans by getting a fingertip to the striker’s side-footed finish from inside the box.