Crewe 0 Bradford City 1

IF THIS was the swansong for the Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes era, there was little in the way of pomp and ceremony.

The celebrations afterwards were not for the two City owners but Crewe’s League One survival – those fans jigging in delight were thanking their lucky stars for the results elsewhere.

City had signed off with another typically clinical win on the road, secured by a typically assured finish from man-of-the-moment Billy Clarke – his 14th in all.

Both Lawn and Rhodes were in the directors’ box to witness it on potentially their final day in the saddle. If that proves the case, they will pass on a very healthy legacy.

By the time City are next in competitive action on August 8, the Valley Parade landscape could look very different.

Gianni Paladini, who was not at the game, could be installed as the club’s new owner at that point. It could happen a lot sooner than that after the Italian was given an extra couple of weeks to try to push his deal through.

What a takeover would mean on the playing side remains to be seen.

But Phil Parkinson, who woke yesterday to a tabloid rumour linking Neil Warnock with a director of football role, knows there is a strong base to build on with most of his regular team still on contract.

Andrew Davies is the interesting conundrum of those whose deals are up but his partnership with Rory McArdle has provided the backbone of City’s continued rise under Parkinson.

The pair were back in tandem at Gresty Road as newly-crowned player of the year McArdle returned from suspension. In front of them, midfielder Matty Dolan got a rare start in what was likely to be his final game before a summer departure.

Alongside him in the holding role, Tony McMahon had more cause for optimism as he looked to further push his claims for a permanent offer.

The tension among the home fans given their precarious league position was not mirrored in the away end, where a group in Hawaiian shirts set off on a conga along the length of the marvellously-named Ice Cream Van stand.

But there was no indication of the City team being “on the beach” on the final day. There were no sombreros about their play.

Jon Stead tried to give the travelling support something to celebrate with two early efforts and was not too far off with a flick over the bar after Davies glanced on a McMahon free-kick.

City adopted a shoot-on-sight policy with Clarke and Hanson also trying their luck without demanding a save out of Paul Rachubka.

The visitors clearly had the upper hand – and made Crewe pay midway through the first half with another piece of opportunism from Clarke.

The Irishman tried to flick on another McMahon free-kick in the box, it bounced off Anthony Grant and Clarke was alive to the loose ball to drill low and hard into the bottom corner.

As a feeling of dread began to grow in the stands, Crewe launched an immediate response and Lauri Dalla Valle held off McArdle to whip in a shot that rattled the advertising boards behind the City goal.

The Finn then picked off a loose touch from McArdle to burst clear – only to be thwarted by the defender’s perfectly-timed recovery tackle in the penalty area.

Crewe v City picture gallery

But City had the chance to extend their lead ten minutes before the break. Stead showed some excellent hold-up play against Jon Guthrie, slipping a pass through his marker only for Hanson to spoon over the bar on his weaker right foot.

Chris Routis upended Ryan Colclough 25 yards out to present the hosts with their first opportunity to test former Alex keeper Ben Williams. But the free-kick from James Jones was tame and straight at him.

The Bantams were good value for the half-time advantage – Dalla Valle aside, Crewe had offered little attacking threat against a back four looking as solid as ever.

But it needed a superb reflex save from Williams to prevent that changing five minutes after the break.

Skipper Harry Davis pumped a free-kick towards the box and for once City did not deal with it. Suddenly the ball dropped at Guthrie’s feet eight yards out but Williams pounced straight away to smother his shot before the defence could scramble away.

Crewe eyes and ears continued to be trained on events elsewhere. There was relief as relegation rivals Colchester missed a penalty – only for despair to quickly follow with news that Notts County were in front and had dropped Alex into the bottom four in the process.

Hanson threatened to increase the discomfort with a drive inches too high as the anguished shouts of “attack, attack, attack” summed up the mood of the majority.

Davis glanced a header wide from Oliver Turton’s free-kick but there was a growing tetchiness in the main stand.

Grant shot weakly at Williams before Crewe boss Steve Davis threw on extra striker Nicky Ajose for the last 20 minutes.

Rachubka denied Hanson with a superb tip-over but the mood had swung completely by the time City took the corner as news filtered through of a Coventry goal lifting Crewe above the dreaded cut-off line.

“We are staying up” became the latest motto on a topsy-turvy afternoon – though their good fortune was not down to the team themselves.

Williams beat Ajose to a through ball and then James Meredith cleared a cross from the substitute right under his own posts.

The fun continued elsewhere – Colchester did score,only for Gillingham to hit back against Notts County.

Crewe felt they should have had a penalty in stoppage time when McArdle caught Colclough’s standing leg in the corner of the box.

But the post-match pitch invasion was borne out of total relief at external assistance rather than Crewe’s own efforts as City rounded off a satisfying campaign in winning fashion.

Roll on a summer of intrigue.