COLBY Bishop scored the only goal of the game as Accrington extended their unbeaten league run to six games with a 1-0 win over Crewe.

The striker pounced in the 59th minute after a Matt Butcher free-kick was pushed on to the crossbar by Will Jaaskelainen and it dropped down for Bishop to head over the line.

It was also a sixth successive league clean sheet for Stanley, who are closing on the top six with games in hand.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides before the break.

Crewe’s Tom Lowery had a strike blocked by Cameron Burgess in the opening seconds while, at the other end, Joe Pritchard fired narrowly wide.

Alex striker Chris Porter’s free header after 22 minutes was straight into Toby Savin’s hands, while a cross from Crewe’s Oliver Finney hit the top of the crossbar as it remained goalless at the break.

Bishop had two headed chances after the re-start before he took the third one from close range after 59 minutes.

Stanley had opportunities to increase their lead through Butcher, Bishop and Pritchard but one goal proved enough.

John Coleman’s side have now kept five successive clean sheets in the league.

The Reds boss said: “It was a tough game, I have watched a lot of Crewe, they play a great brand of football – it’s quite open and they are prepared to take risks and we thought we could cash in on that and we did for the first 20 minutes.

“We had them pinned back and flashed a few balls across their goal and then they had a good 20-minute spell and we had to be at our best to keep them at bay.

“In the second half we stepped it up again and deservedly took the lead and could have had a couple more.

“Saying that, they had pressure and once again our lads defended magnificently.”

Bishop now has four goals for the season as the Reds close in on the play-off places with games in hand.

“I have never seen a save like the one their keeper pulled off before the goal, he was like Inspector Gadget, but then Colby couldn’t miss,” Coleman added.

“Colby was magnificent tonight, he led the line brilliantly, he deserved his goal and he could have had another couple.

“At the other end, it’s nearly nine hours without conceding a goal, it’s something to cling to but there is still a long way to go won’t get carried away.”

* Results - League One: Gillingham 2-1 AFC Wimbledon, Burton 4-2 Charlton, Doncaster Rovers 3-2 Blackpool, Ipswich 0-3 Hull, Milton Keynes Dons 2-2 Shrewsbury, Peterborough 1-0 Plymouth, Portsmouth 1-1 Oxford Utd, Rochdale 1-1 Northampton, Swindon 0-1 Lincoln, Wigan 0-0 Bristol Rovers.