Youthful Crewe Alex swept to victory in their first Checkatrade Trophy group game at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

The Alex, who made six changes and fielded a side with an average age of 22, scored three goals in the second half through Callum Ainley, George Cooper and birthday boy Dan Udoh.

First team coach James Collins said: “I thought we were okay in the first-half but we asked them at half-time if they could step it up and I think they did, really dominated the game and deserved to win the game.

“That first goal settled them and gave them the confidence and I thought we got on top and deserved the goals that we scored.

TWO of Crewe's attacking teenage trio scored to round off what was a successive night in the Checkatrade Trophy group win at Accrington Stanley last night.

In a competition introduced to improve opportunities for the country's young players, Crewe fielded a side with an average age of 22, eight of who had come through the club's Academy.

But this was no disrespectful move of a competition much derided among the fans as they eased their way to a win at the Wham Stadium.

The Alex boss will have been more than satisfied with his side's display, as Callum Ainley and George Cooper both netted in a second period where Crewe made their dominance pay.

ACCRINGTON Stanley lost their opening Checkatrade Trophy game against fellow League Two side Crewe with just 585 watching the controversial cup game.

The one-time Johnstone’s Paint Trophy now has group stages with Wolves Under 23s joining Chesterfield in Stanley and Crewe’s group with the top two going through to the knock-out stages.

Stanley voted against Premier League Under 23 teams being invited into the competition, with organisers then including Championship Under 23s when Premier League sides turned down the opportunity - but were over-ruled.