Lee Bell determined to add to Crewe’s summer recruitment after they move top

Lee Bell is determined to add to Crewe’s summer recruitment after his side maintained their 100 per cent League Two record this season to move top of the table.

First-half goals from new signing Reece Hutchinson and youngster Calum Agius secured the Railwaymen a comfortable 2-0 win, after which the Alex boss revealed he was close to completing a deal to bring another defender to the Mornflake Stadium.

Bell has been backed by his board to transform his squad after last season tailed off in dismal fashion with just one win in 12 games.

There was rarely any doubt that once Hutchinson netter the 18th-minute opener that Crewe would start their home campaign with anything but a win.

“It was a very good first half and we should have gone in at the break 4-0 up,” said the Crewe manager. “It was a professional performance although we gave them opportunities to get back into the game in the second half.

“I’m pleased that we’ve got options on the bench, but we’ll have another body in by Monday and that will mean some may be able to go out on loan to get game time.

“I’d like a couple more to come in if possible and the board have been excellent in helping us to address what we need to do.

“We’ve had a good start, but I’m not going to get too excited about as we’re only two games in.

“It was a brilliant strike from Reece and a really good move – I’ve been telling our players to shoot for six months, so it was pleasing to see that and Calum’s goal was a good finish too.

“It was also a first clean sheet of the season and I’m pleased for Tom Booth and the defenders.”

While Crewe goalkeeper Booth needed to get behind a shot from distance from Josh Woods before the break, he was largely unoccupied even after the visitors’ improved second-half showing.

Stanley had won on four of their last six visits to Crewe, but they were up against it once Josh March set up fellow new recruit Hutchinson to provide an explosive finish into the top corner.

Teenager Agius hit another fierce finish past Michael Kelly on the half-hour mark, to double the lead and his own senior career tally.

Accrington frontman Charlie Caton flicked an effort over in a low-key second-half, but Stanley manager John Doolan felt the game had already been lost by then.

“Crewe are a good side and they were quicker and had a higher tempo than us in the first half and the game was won then,” said Doolan.

“It was a game of two halves and at half-time I challenged the players to get a clean sheet in the second half and pass the ball better.

“I thought we did that and we created the better chances in the second half. But teams seem to score unbelievable goals against us and it was disappointing as we’ve got to stop crosses and shots.

“We can’t give teams the start we did and we have to be better than that.”