Crewe gave their play-off hopes a major boost as they hammered Shrewsbury 4-0 at Croud Meadow.

The Railwaymen had gone three games without a win but kept themselves within touching distance of the top seven as they got back to winning ways in style.

Gavin Cowan's Shrews, who had won six out of seven to propel themselves away from danger, have now lost three on the spin without scoring.

The hosts suffered from a horror start and never recovered as Josh March's strike was cleared off the line but went straight back over it off goalkeeper Matt Cox after just five minutes.

March quickly fired home the second in the eighth minute as good link-up play with Jack Lancaster.

Emre Tezgel had a strike denied by Cox as the visitors tried to really turn the screw.

The closest the hosts came was when Trey Ogunsuyi's headed landed on the roof of the net on the stroke of half-time.

March doubled his tally just after the hour with his 11th goal of the campaign as he slotted home from Tezgel's knockdown.

Tommi O'Reilly rattled the base of a post for the visitors before Tezgel got in on the act with a powerful strike.