Crewe Alexandra strengthened their bid for the League Two play-offs with a 3-1 victory at Chesterfield.

Shilow Tracey and Max Conway scored in the first half, and although Dylan Duffy pulled a goal back late in the game, Tom Lowery added a third in stoppage time to wrap up a convincing win.

The visitors had a good chance early on when Joel Tabiner went past two Chesterfield defenders before setting up Tracey, who fired over from close range.

Goalkeeper Ryan Boot then came to Chesterfield’s rescue, turning Lewis Billington’s shot wide.

Tracey opened the scoring after the 12 minutes, beating Boot with a shot on the turn.

And Conway put Crewe further ahead 10 minutes later, finding the net from inside the area after running at the defence.

In the second half, Lowery shot wide from just outside the area and Boot made a save from Billington while Tabiner also put an effort wide.

Duffy reduced the arrears in the 87th minute after getting on the end of a cross from Jack Sparkes, but Lowery restored Crewe’s two-goal advantage in the third minute of stoppage time to leave Crewe seventh in the standings.