Crewe sealed a 2-0 home victory over a battling Barnsley side with a late goal from Rodney Jack.
Steve Foster had headed the Railwaymen in front in the 17th minute from Kenny Lunt's free kick, but the visitors fought back strongly after the break.
Foster was a major influence in the opposing box in the first 45 minutes. He came close when he got the faintest of connections on Paul Tierney's free kick, only for Andy Marriott to save at his near post.
But the former Wrexham keeper was unable to do anything about the defender's next set piece effort, which handed Crewe the lead.
Another right-sided free kick brought Foster into the box again and he flicked the ball home with his head after a strong run to the near post.
Barnsley responded instantly with Chris Lumsdon, out on the right, passing inside to Dean Gorre and the midfielder's effort appeared to be beating Clayton Ince at his near post, but the big Trinidadian reacted swiftly to push the ball away for a corner.
Crewe could have edged further in front in the 24th minute, when Lunt's free kick crashed into the Barnsley wall and the Alex midfielder reacted quickly to lob the ball back to the far side of the box. And Foster rose to loop a header that forced Marriott back to tip over onto the roof of his net.
Barnsley were a different side in the second half and Bruce Dyer saw his first-time shot saved by Clayton Ince at the keeper's near post. Ince then came to the rescue when he came off his line to block Lee CrooksÂ’ half volley.
And again the Trinidadian was called into action off his line when Gorre cleverly lobbed the ball through for Dyer, but the keeper's swift thinking saw him make the block.
There were warning signs though that a second might be needed and Jack conjured it up eight minutes from time when he latched onto Tierney's long throughball and slotted past Marriott from the edge of the box.
Dean Ashton then could have added to the margin of victory when he dipped one effort over and curled another past the post in the closing minutes.