Courtney Baker-Richardson’s brace gave Town a mountain to climb but Hoskins finished off good work by Kieron Bowie to reduce the deficit before scoring direct from a corner in the 97th-minute. Cobblers now have 11 points from five games, their best start to a season in 32 years. Here are our player ratings from Gresty Road...
![Has to take the blame for Crewe's second goal, can't be taking a risk in that area of the pitch and it was costly with Mellor able to wriggle free and set up Baker-Richardson. Use of the ball was mixed. Haynes will be on his case if he doesn't sharpen up... 5](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI3YmM5NTA0LTUzOTUtNGRhYy1iNDhkLTEyZTAxNGMxZWU0Yzo1OWFkNDg3My1mM2ZjLTQ1OTMtOGY5MC1jN2NjYjZmMzc2OTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Ali Koiki
Has to take the blame for Crewe's second goal, can't be taking a risk in that area of the pitch and it was costly with Mellor able to wriggle free and set up Baker-Richardson. Use of the ball was mixed. Haynes will be on his case if he doesn't sharpen up... 5 Photo: Pete Norton
![Worked well in tandem with Leonard to give Cobblers control of the game, even at 0-0 the away side were seeing more of the ball. Lacked a little bit of penetration with his passing when they were chasing a goal in the second-half... 7](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFjNmIzZTk1LWQ1MDUtNGQwZC1iY2U4LWE0NzkxZGQxNmJkOTo4MGZlYmUwOS01OTU4LTQxNDMtOWE4NC01YzY2NjRjYWY4YjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Shaun McWilliams
Worked well in tandem with Leonard to give Cobblers control of the game, even at 0-0 the away side were seeing more of the ball. Lacked a little bit of penetration with his passing when they were chasing a goal in the second-half... 7 Photo: Pete Norton
![Cobblers had 62% of the ball and made over 200 more passes than Crewe and that was largely down to their classy central midfielder on loan from Brighton. Made 80 passes himself, the vast majority of which found a team-mate. Always on the move, always looking to keep things ticking over. Willing to be physical too. Increasingly looks like a very astute piece of business... 8](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVlN2Q1ZDQ1LThhYjUtNDllYi04YzcyLTg3YmYyYjQ2OTg3NDphZjUzMTRiZS0wNDBmLTQ3NDUtYWE5MS1hM2RjMGE5YjJkMzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Marc Leonard
Cobblers had 62% of the ball and made over 200 more passes than Crewe and that was largely down to their classy central midfielder on loan from Brighton. Made 80 passes himself, the vast majority of which found a team-mate. Always on the move, always looking to keep things ticking over. Willing to be physical too. Increasingly looks like a very astute piece of business... 8 Photo: Pete Norton
![Returned the favour to Hoskins following the pair's midweek exploits with some excellent work on the right for a crucial goal just before half-time. Cobblers needed to get the ball to him quicker and with more precision for him to do that more. Was often crowded out... 7](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVlYmVhMDNhLTZhNDgtNDAzMi1hOTg5LTQ2MmUwYzk4ZDRkZDphNDQ1NjcwNy02NTA1LTQzZDktYjVhZC1hNTI0ZTYzYWFlNWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Kieron Bowie
Returned the favour to Hoskins following the pair's midweek exploits with some excellent work on the right for a crucial goal just before half-time. Cobblers needed to get the ball to him quicker and with more precision for him to do that more. Was often crowded out... 7 Photo: Pete Norton