Justin Richards' double helped ease Cheltenham's relegation fears as they beat Crewe 2-1.

Richards strikes twice as Crewe are defeated

Justin Richards' double helped ease Cheltenham's relegation fears as they beat Crewe 2-1. The Robins were desperate to record a second Easter win to keep a buffer between themselves and second-bottom Grimsby. And leading scorer Richards was in deadly form to see off a poor Crewe side. He netted his first in the 25th minute as Cheltenham made the most of a quick break. Josh Low found Michael Pook and his cross was superbly chested down by Richards and dispatched from 15 yards. Danny Andrew came close to stretching the lead with an angled drive from distance that arrowed inches wide of the upright. But Richards sowed up the points by converting a 71st-minute spot-kick after Daniel O'Donnell had pulled back Shane Duff in the box as the pair fought for a corner. Crewe finally started to threaten in the dying moments and substitute Carl Martin was on hand to prod home when Cheltenham failed to clear a free-kick. But Mark Yates' men held on for victory and were unlucky not to snatch a third in stoppage time when Low's shot hit the crossbar.