Lee Bell was pleased to see Crewe maintain their steady improvement in 2023 after a hard-fought draw with rivals Stockport.

Honours were shared in the first meeting of the two sides at Gresty Road in more than 11 years after Kyle Wootton hit back for County to cancel out Connor O'Riordan's first senior goal for the Railwaymen.

Both sides produced a decent spectacle for the 5,877 fans considering the difficulties presented by the poor playing surface, which could prove a handicap to the Alex as they negotiate another three home games over the next fortnight.

But boss Bell had the satisfaction of seeing his players maintain their unbeaten run in the new year, which now stretches for four games and put behind them their dismal showing in defeat at Edgeley Park (0-2) on Boxing Day.

Crewe offered a threat in the first half when new recruit Elliott Nevitt was unlucky to hit the post and they defended well in the main against a County side who offered plenty of thrust.

Regan Griffiths in the thick of the action (Picture credit: Kevin Warburton).

"I thought it was a really good team performance in what were difficult conditions with the playing surface, although it was the same for both teams," said the Alex boss.

"You could see the progress we are making with the players against a team who normally dominate the tempo of play.

"That's four games unbeaten for us and we have played some difficult teams in that run.

"I was delighted for Connor as it had been a difficult decision with the skipper [Luke Offord] available again at the back. But he more than deserved to stay in and that is the sort of thing he has to do, score goals, to progress his career.

"Elliott Nevitt was good too and he will get better with more games and when he builds up relationships. He was unlucky with the one that hit the post, but he has a presence up front and he really worked hard – he'll get better in the next couple of weeks."

County went close early on when Callum Camps flicked the outside the post with a low drive. And Nevitt also hit the woodwork after Bassala Sambou's effort was pushed out by Ben Hinchliffe. The former Tranmere striker prodded the rebound from a difficult angle onto the outside of the post.

Crewe were ahead just before the break (44) when O'Riordan was lurking at the far post to apply a finish to Regan Griffiths' corner, flicked on by Rod McDonald.

But they were outmuscled by Wootton soon after the restart (48) after the striker latched onto a neat pass by Will Collar and tucked a finish into the far corner past Dave Richards.

Nevitt threatened again with a half volley, which was turned around by Hinchliffe. But clear chances were at a premium afterwards and it was more likely that a mistake triggered by the poor surface would decide it rather than a piece of creativity. In the end the draw was a fair result.

Man-of-the-match recognition for the Alex goalscorer with club announcer John Rodgers (Picture credit: Kevin Warburton).

County boss Dave Challinor said: "The pitch here doesn't make for a good spectacle and it affects Crewe too as they have got technical players.

"These sort of pitches test you and we'll be glad to get home on Saturday as we know we are lucky there with what we've got.

"I don't think we were good enough in the first half. We let ourselves down from a set play and this is a set play league. But I was pleased with the reaction and how we improved in the second half."