APART from a short period at the beginning of each half The Storks fully deserved their victory, controlling large sections of the game and creating numerous chances.

However, the first chance of the game came when Jason McMullen's cross-shot was deflected away for a corner.

Billinge had their first chance of the game when Rob Lamont's brilliant footwork led to a corner from which Joe Andrews headed back to Marios Avraam whose goalbound shot from the edge of the area was blocked by a defender.

On 18 minutes Avraam had a great chance to open the scoring as Danny Murphy found Richie Allen in space on the left.

The midfielder surged forward, produced a perfect pass to Avraam who hit his shot straight at the keeper, Oliver Hawkins, from seven yards out.

Ten minutes later Avraam almost got on the end of an excellent ball from Lamont but keeper Hawkins got their first, and while there were claims for a penalty referee Ryan Bostock was having nothing of it.

On 32 minutes, after a great run and cross from Andrew Dixon, Lamont had a shot superbly saved by Hawkins, Avraam latched onto the rebound but his shot was blocked on the line before the same fate was to fall to Dixon whose first effort was blocked by a defender while his second sailed over the bar.

The final action of the half saw The Storks go close again.

Liam Fitzgerald's free-kick was cleared only as far as Murphy whose 25-yard volley was brilliant saved by Hawkins.

Two minutes into the second period the visitors were ahead when Jordan Bennion hit a neat through-ball, Nathan Southern got in-between Joe Andrews and Zak Riley and lobbed Kai McAlister in the Billinge goal from 22 yards out.

Josh Hewitt had a half-chance to put Crewe further ahead but The Storks composed themselves and were level on 57 minutes.

Avraam controlled the ball well, played it back to Dixon who knocked it into man-of-the-match Murphy whose volley from 20 yards this time beat Hawkins for a superb goal.

The game was then held up for 16 minutes as McAlister came off worse in a coming together with a Crewe striker but after a stitch or two, administered by Murphy as he reverted to his day job as a doctor, the Billinge keeper was able to continue.

As The Storks upped the pressure Riley got on the end of a Fitzgerald free-kick to head home past the helpless Hawkins to take the lead.

It was almost three moments later but Richard Elcock cleared Avraam's cross-shot off the line.

Then from the resultant corner Allen's neat overhead kick went just the wrong side of the bar.

However, it was three after 84 minutes when Allen won a fifty-fifty in midfield, the ball fell to Avraam who played a delightful return ball to the midfielder who finished superbly to secure the three points for The Storks.

After the game manager Wayne Wardle was pleased with the result saying: "I thought everybody played well and while we could possibly have had more goals but you have to give Crewe credit as they defended terrifically and we have to be happy with a win against a team of their quality."

Billinge are at home next Saturday (kick-ff 2pm) when Lostock Graham are the visitors in the next round of group cup fixtures.