With both half-backs injured last week and Jamie Maughan and Dave Backhouse crying off shortly before kick off, Ackworth had only three substitutes and fielded a re-shuffled line up.
Tom Gundhill, who is usually a forward, played his first game at full back and gave a man of the match performance, impressing with his safe work and aggressive defence.
Mark Cavill, who switched from the wing to hooker, defended well.
James Barnett was sin-binned early on but 12-man Ackworth held out before taking the lead when Jack Barraclough continued his scoring run by burrowing over from acting half. Barnett converted.
Veteran Jason Wood and ever green Andy Morgan set a great lead in Ackworth's pack and Eddie Roberts tackled solidly.
Dean Shepherd had the chance to increase Ackworth's lead when Barnett sent him through a gap but he was foiled by a superb tackle.
A stop-start game was littered with penalties to the annoyance of both teams and their supporters.
In the second-half, Shepherd settled Ackworth's nerves when he scored a converted try from Barnett's inside pass but Crofton stayed in the hunt with an unconverted try.
However, there was no way back for Crofton when Clifton Richardson punished weak defence to cross and Barnett converted.
Ackworth lost the influential Barraclough through injury and will be sweating on his fitness as their injury list grows.
Crofton managed another try but it wasn't enough to deny Ackworth a well deserved victory.
Shepherd was awarded the Crofton coach's man of the match award and skipper Wood topped the tackle count, supported by Russ Brooke and Cavill.