Nicky Maynard scored twice to edge Crewe closer to League One safety.

Maynard gave the home side the lead when he met George Abbey's drilled cross and beat Hartlepool keeper Arran Lee-Barratt at his near post.

The striker made it 2-0 when he lashed the ball in after Tom Pope's header came back off a post.

Joel Porter pounced on a mistake to give Pools hope but Pope sealed the points with a powerful header with five minutes remaining.

Crewe: Williams, Woodards, Boyle, Baudet, Abbey, O'Connor, Roberts, Lunt, Morgan (Anyinsah 78), Maynard (Moore 79), Pope.
Subs Not Used: fon Williams, Schumacher, James Bailey.

Booked: Baudet.

Goals: Maynard 20, 30, Pope 85.

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, Collins, Nelson, Antwi , Humphreys (Robson 75), Boland (Foley 56), Monkhouse, Sweeney, Liddle, Mackay (Brown 56), Porter.
Subs Not Used: Elliott, Clark.

Booked: Brown.

Goals: Porter 81.

Att: 4,412.

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).