CRISIS. What crisis? A third win in a row has banished memories of Bury’s wretched start to the season and revitalised their play-off push.

Their latest success, courtesy of Stephen Dawson’s 86th-minute winner, continued the Shakers’ superb away form — they have now won four out of five on the road this season — and moved the Gigg Lane side up to 10th in the table.

In fact, Alan Knill’s only concern at the moment is running out of strikers after Ryan Lowe, following his fifth goal of the season, joined Andy Bishop, Andy Morrell and Danny Carlton on the treatment table after he limped off at the Alexandra Stadium on Tuesday night.

But in Tom Elliott the Bury boss looks to have unearthed a gem.

The 6ft 4ins on-loan striker looks set to make a big impact in more ways than one after scoring one — his first in League football — and making another on his first start for the League Two club.

The Leeds wonderkid made his debut for the Yorkshire club at just 15 and came into the Shakers side in place of Bishop, who continues to be plagued by injury following his two summer operations.

He wasted little time in making his mark with a fine 22nd-minute opener.

And, after Harry Worley’s 39th-minute equaliser, the 18-year-old hitman turned supplier as he took advantage of goalkeeper Adam Bogdan’s error to set up Lowe four minutes before half time.

Calvin Zola looked to have spared the on-loan Bolton keeper’s blushes when he levelled for the Railwaymen, who finished the game with nine men, on 72 minutes.

But the visitors’ desire to find a winner was rewarded when Dawson’s burst into the area was curtailed by Billy Jones, who was subsequently sent off for his trip.

The captain picked himself up and coolly tucked away the spot kick.

“That’s as good as we’ve played all season,” said a delighted Knill.

“It’s all turned around.

“We took six points last month and nine this month, so we’ve improved. If we continue to improve we can compete in this league.

“The desire of the players to get forward and score more goals was fantastic.

“Even though they got back into it twice, I thought we were fairly comfortable and looked dangerous on the counter attack and some of the players were on top form.”

Bury had signalled their early intent when Lowe’s 15th-minute snapshot had forced Bogdan into a fine save.

But the Bolton keeper was helpless seven minutes later when Elliott crashed an unstoppable header past him after former Crewe favourite Efe Sodje had headed Brian Barry-Murphy’s corner back across the six-yard box.

The Shakers struggled all night with crosses into the area and, from a Billy Jones corner, Worley outjumped Sodje to plant a firm header past Wayne Brown on 39 minutes.

But Crewe were level for less than two minutes following Bogdan’s rush of blood. The Hungarian shot-stopper, who arrived at the club just 24 hours earlier, recklessly raced outside his area only to be beaten to Brown’s long clearance by Elliott, who poked the ball into the path of Lowe and he restored the visitors’ lead against his old employers.

Bogdan made a partial amends moments later when he saved from the lively Elliott, who went close again after the break with a spectacular overhead kick.

But he made another howler on 71 minutes when Lowe’s cross squirmed under his body but Patrick Ada was on hand to clear off the line.

It was then Brown’s turn to bury his head when the Bury number one could not hold John Brayford’s low drive and Zola pounced on the rebound to level matters.

Dawson’s piledriver rebounded back off the foot of the post before the midfielder’s burst into the area was halted by Jones’ professional foul.

Dawson’s spot-kick condemned the Railwaymen to a fourth straight defeat, and the hosts’ misery was completed when Ada received his marching orders, albeit harshly, in injury time.

Crewe: Bogdan 4, Brayford 6, Jones 6, Ada 6, Zola 5, Grant 6 (Leitch-Smith 80), Mitchel-King 6, Miller 6 (Moore 69), Murphy 6, Westwood 6, Worley 7. Subs not used: Legzdins, Bailey, Verma, Davis, Walton.

Booked: None. Sent off: Jones, Ada.

Bury: Brown 5, Buchanan 6, Creswell 6, Dawson 8, Baker 6 (Worrall 65, 6), Barry-Murphy 6, Jones 7, Lowe 7 (Racchi 71, 5), Sodje 6, Elliott 8, Newey 6. Subs not used: Futcher, Belford, Thompson, Patel.

Booked: Baker.

Referee: David Foster. Attendance: 3534 (481).