Town's recent run of improved form has lifted the club to 12th place and put a far healthier points gap between them and the relegation places.
Crowe scored the winner in the 63rd minute with a towering header. Town should have gone on to win by more with Akinfenwa putting the bal wide and thenm two efforts hit the woodwork in the closing minutes.
Next up is a trip to Southend on Boxing Day. Kick off 3:00pm.