Crewe: The Railwaymen on track to the top!

Cheshire Sport.com

Oldham defeat lacklustre Crewe


Oldham celebrate the winning goal.

Oldham scraped a victory over high-flyers Crewe after a disappointing defensive performance from both sides. Oldham lead after an hour when Jose Baxter crossed and left Robbie Simpson with acres of space. Byron Moore equalized with 10 minutes to play after a defensive mix-up from Oldham, but 5 minutes later Jose Baxter was played through and smashed the ball into the corner to win the game.

Oldham defender Jean-Yves M'Voto was Man Of The Match.

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Inconsistent Railwaymen back to winning ways


Michael West was back to fitness but sat out most of the game

Crewe amazingly beat a Tranmere side who knocked them out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and they had Andre Wisdom to thank. His second goal for the club helped Crewe earn a 1-0 win. The goal came after an hour when poor marking at a corner left Wisdom in space, and the keeper stranded. Wisdom simply walked the ball in and celebrated the victory. He commented later "I had a very good game. We know that Tranmere are a good side but we tore them apart, and I am happy with life at the club. The first team football is plentiful and rewarding. Today was one of the best in my career so far."

Wisdom was also voted Man Of The Match.

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Crewe stage breathtaking comeback against favourites Coventry


Crewe equalize and Coventry cannot believe what has happened

Crewe managed to salvage a point after a shocking first half performance put them 3-0 behind at the break. The troubles started when Carl Baker scored a magnificent strike from just outside the box, but it was to get even worse when Baker was played through 5 minutes later and placed it past Steve Phillips in The Railwaymen's goal. The Sky Blues were gifted another goal just 1 minute later when Adam Dugdale miscued a clearance and Richard Wood volleyed in. Crewe manager Louis Ostrowski later revealed that he laid into the players at half-time, and it seemed to improve their performance when Robin Shroot scored his first goal for the club 10 minutes after the teams had come back out. Then Coventry fans had more cause for concern as Michael West ran in on goal, received a fantastic pass from substitute Craig Sutherland, and fired in. The question was whether Crewe could get a 3rd, but they did just that as Michael West powered his second into the net and left Coventry in a state of disbelief. Crewe nearly pushed even further to win but a fierce shot from Craig Sutherland was deflected onto the post before Michael West shot just over from outside the box. Louis Ostrowski told Cheshire Sport in a post-match interview that his sides effort was unbelievable. "We told them at half-time that we should be doing better and they did. It was amazing."

Man of the match was Carl Baker, scorer of 2.

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The Alex held to goalless draw


Mark Ellis clears a cross but attacks were rare from both sides

Crewe Alexandra were held to a second consecutive draw against Bury. Neither side threatened and neither side deserved the points so a draw was the obvious result. Crewe manager Louis Ostrowski was disappointed with the performance. He told Cheshire Sport "I wish to apologise to Crewe fans and Bury fans that were here today. It was a poor game" This feeling was echoed by Bury manager Kevin Blackwell" I am happy with the result as Crewe are a good side but I am not so happy with the performance."

Mark Ellis was man of the match.

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Crewe take 3 points after 7 goal thriller


Matt Tootle celebrates his first goal with teammates watching on

Hartlepool conceded 4 goals to Crewe in a 4-3 victory which put The Alex 2nd. Craig Sutherland scored after just 5 minutes but 15 minutes later Hartlepool levelled through Jonathan Franks who cut inside and scored from long range, leaving goalkeeper Steve Phillips in no-mans-land.
Luke James then put the Pools ahead with a tap-in. However Scott Flinders was left floundering just before the hour when Matt Tootle, playing in central midfield, timed a run perfectly before crashing the ball into the corner of the net. The unlikely scorer got another 10 minutes later from further out but the same corner to put the Railwaymen ahead. AJ Leitch-Smith put the game to bed when Hartlepool captain Sam Collins missed his header leaving Leitch-Smith to round the keeper and poke home from 10 yards. There seemed to be hope for Hartlepool though when Steve Howard burst through to score but the game ended on a sour note when Howard was rushed off injured 10 minutes later and the game ended.

Matt Tootle was Man Of The Match.

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Dallas wonder strike holds the Alex to draw


Brentford celebrate Dallas's strike

Crewe Alexandra played out a 1-1 draw with fellow promotion chasers Brentford but the focus of the match was Stuart Dallas's wonder goal which put Brentford in the lead on 40 minute.

Dallas received the ball in his own half and sprinted past Harry Davis before launching a massive shot which lobbed over goalkeeper Steve Phillips to give The Bees the lead. However just 5 minutes later Crewe's Joao Carlos fired past numerous defenders and the goalkeeper and equalized. The game stayed 1-1 but Brentford manager Uwe Rosler believed that the match sponsors were correct not to give Stuart Dallas the match ball. "Stuart played pretty poorly despite his goal which was amazing but most people are forgetting that Joao Carlos scored too and he made many key passes which were wasted but he was the main threat."

Joao Carlos was given the man of the match award.

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U's defeated as Sutherland hits form


Both sides threatened but Crewe eventually prevailed

Colchester United continued their bad form after a 1-0 loss to Crewe Alexandra who went up to 3rd in the league table.

Craig Sutherland scored the games only goal just before the hour when Joao Carlos launched a huge 60 yard ball which Sutherland brought down and fired in.

Both sides had chances and both sides had to defend but Sutherland's goal seperated the two sides. Matt Tootle had to go off after 20 minutes however and his injury later turned out to be serious ligament damage which will keep Tootle out for 2 months.

Crewe defender Mark Ellis was named the Most Valuable Player.

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Promotion decider leaves Swindon frustrated


Ritchie celebrates his long-range strike

Crewe Alexandra and Swindon Town battled to a 1-1 draw which left Swindon annoyed that they didn't win the game. The game was posied in their favour but they didn't capitalise until over an hour when Matt Ritchie was not closed down allowing him the space to shoot from 25 yards. The ball flew past the defenders and into the corner but Craig Sutherland restored parity with 10 minutes to go after connecting with s superb cross from Joao Carlos.

Matt Ritchie was Man Of The Match.

Crewe Announce Ilunga swoop


Ilunga in action for West Ham

Crewe manager Louis Ostrowski has revealed the signing of full back Herita Ilunga on a free transfer. The defender had previously been released by Doncaster Rovers after the Willie McKay experiment but was deemed good enough to sign a 2-year contract with Crewe.

Ilunga confirmed his signing on his official Twitter account. He tweeted: "got contract with #crewealex for 2 yrs #imback" At a somewhat more formal press conference he said "I've been without a club for a while and I think that Crewe can achieve great things".

Crewe put 4 past MK Dons in great victory


MK Dons celebrate the opener, but it would not count

Crewe Alexandra battled to a 4-2 victory over MK Dons which saw some poor defending and some great atttacking from both teams. The game began in controversial fashion when Alan Smith had a header disallowed and Crewe scored just minutes later through a Michael West tap-in. MK Dons then equalised through Ryan Lowe's long range effort, but Craig Sutherland burst through right on half-time and cooly slot home. After the break he added another through a fantastic dribble past 3 players and powerful finish. Crewe had the chance to put the game to bed when Max Clayton squared for Abdul Osman but the keeper made a fantastic save to push the ball out for a corner. It nearly proved costly as Alan Smith's free-kick found the net and put pressure on Crewe but Michael West sealed the win with a follow up from Craig Sutherland's weak effort.

Sutherland was voted Man Of The Match.

Sutherland batters struggling Pompey


Crewe celebrate but the goalkeeper was at fault for Sutherland's 2nd

Crewe Alexandra defeated bottom side Portsmouth 2-0 thanks to star striker Craig Sutherland's two goals to move 1 point behind league leaders Bournemouth. Sutherland opened the scoring with a low drive in the 20th minute from just inside the box, but had a goal disallowed early in the second half when he jumped unfairly before heading home. However, he did get a second goal on the hour after a corner came in from Luke Murphy which the goalkeeper punched into the path of the striker, who volleyed home the open goal. He said of his disallowed goal "It is disappointing as I would have had a hat trick, but I think the referee made the right deciscion."

Sutherland was Crewe's Man Of The Match.

Max Clayton sinks Blades and ends goal drought



Clayton celebrates breaking the drought

Max Clayton finally scored after an hour at Gresty Road to give Crewe a 1-0 win over Sheffield United. Clayton had not scored for 11 hours of football until he latched onto a long ball from debútant Hérita Ilunga and shot. Although it was saved he followed up and gave The Railwaymen the win.

Steven Gregory was Man Of The Match.