The midfielder found the target from outside the area early in the second half in a game which saw Tranmere play with ten men for over an hour.

The sending off of Gavin Ward for handball gave Ben Hinchliffe his first taste of first team football, and though there were one or two nervy moments for the youngster, he grew in confidence as the game went on and made several crucial saves. However, he was unable to keep out Shaun Miller's late effort after the home side had pressured for long periods.

There was a change of formation and personnel for Rovers with Jason McAteer and Chris Shuker coming into the starting line up at the expense of Chris Greenacre and Craig Curran as Rovers moved to 4-3-3. Joining Greenacre on the bench were Gareth Taylor and John Mullin who returned from injury and suspension respectively.

A left foot cross from Steve Davies was caught by Crewe keeper Ben Williams on four minutes after Rovers attacked quickly with a move started by McAteer.

Davies came within inches of grabbing the opener on 12 minutes when finding the side netting with a low drive from the edge of the area.

On 20 minutes the game came to life. A clearance from Gavin Ward fell to Nicky Maynard and the striker rushed towards goal and fired a shot which the keeper saved with his hands outside the area. Going by the rules of the game, the referee had little choice but to show a straight red card and Rovers were down to ten men.

Ben Hinchliffe was brought on in place of the unfortunate Shuker and the youngster took his place between the posts for the first time since joining on loan from Preston.

Five minutes later Ryan Lowe curled a free kick just wide from a central position and the winger narrowly missed with a right footed effort on 30 minutes after cutting inside the challenge of Shane Sherriff.

Hinchliffe, who was making his first ever first team appearance, had a nervy start, dropping a cross then slipping when trying to meet a back pass from Ian Goodison. The keeper was beaten on 41 minutes by Luke Varney, but the strikers' shot also went wide of goal.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rovers more than matched their opponents in terms of possession. McAteer was influential in the middle, playing a couple of fantastic passes to Davies which the winger was unable to capitalise on.

Zola missed with a shot from 25 yards after McLaren intercepted a Crewe pass in the middle of the opposition half, the final chance of the half.

The first chance of the second half brought the first goal. Sherriff found Zola inside the area, the striker held the ball up, played a short pass to Danny Harrison and the midfielder brilliantly found the top right corner from 20 yards.

Greenacre replaced Zola on 59 minutes with the latter limping down the tunnel, while Baudet volleyed over from close range soon after from a corner.

Lowe narrowly missed with another curler from outside the area on 64 minutes, and Hinchliffe brilliantly saved Luke Varney's header three minutes later as the home side pressed forward.

Baudet headed wide on 69 minutes from Ben Rix's free kick, while Varney saw a close range effort blocked by Hinchliffe a few minutes later after Davies had given possession away.

Hinchliffe was called into action again on 77 minutes, acrobatically turning over Maynard's inswinging cross and then saving from Danny O'Donnell's header soon after.

Mullin replaced the injured McLaren with two minutes remaining, and the midfielder was involved in the goalmouth scramble that saw Varney's 20 yard volley blocked on its way to goal.

With the game in injury time Darren Moss sent a low shot narrowly wide of Hinchliffe's goal.

Soon after Maynard crossed into the area when the ball looked out of play, Baudet flicked on and Shaun Miller headed into the corner of the goal to level.

Crewe: Ben Williams, Jones, Roberts (Miller 83), Baudet, McNamee (Cox 57), Varney, Rix, Woodards (Moss 50), Lowe, Maynard, O'Donnell. Substitutes not used: Owain Williams, Carrington.

Tranmere: Ward, McCready, Thompson, Goodison, Sherriff, Harrison, McLaren (Mullin 88), McAteer, Shuker (Hinchliffe 21), Zola (Greenacre 59), Davies Substitutes not used: Stockdale, Taylor.

Referee: Ian Williamson

Yellow cards: Roberts (55)

Red card: Ward (20)