Nicky Maynard's double inspired a resolute Crewe side closer to League One safety as they blazed past Hartlepool 3-1 at Gresty Road.The striker broke his leg on the opening day of the season but is now the club's leading scorer with seven.

Crewe should have scored in the 19th minute when defender Julien Baudet directed his header from a corner wide from just four yards.

But Maynard struck 60 seconds later when he arrived on George Abbey's drilled cross and beat goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barratt at his near post.

The in-form hitman notched another before the half-hour when he followed up Tom Pope's header and lashed in the loose ball when it came back off a post.

Joel Porter seized on a mistake to give his side hope but Pope dashed them with a powerful header at the death.

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