Crewe come back from 2-0 to win opening friendly
Buxton FC 2-3 Crewe Alex
Garratt, Trialist, Guthrie, Nugent, Bakayogo, Jones, Bingham, Ainley, Kirk, Lowe, DagnallCrewe 1st Half:
Garratt, Turton, Trialist (Pickering, 70), Guthrie, Ray, Trialist, Lowery, Wintle, Saunders, Cooper, UdohCrewe 2nd half:
Ainley (15), Dagnall (36), Udoh (53)Goals:
Recent signing, Chris Dagnall, scored a debut goal for Crewe Alexandra in the club’s first pre-season friendly at Buxton FC, as the Railwaymen fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 thanks to a second half winner from Daniel Udoh.
Callum Ainley was also on target with a well controlled volley at the far post after Billy Bingham had clipped a perfect cross into the space.
The lively Dagnall finished off a quick passing move to draw Crewe level after the Evo-Stick Premier League side had raced into a two-goal lead early on.
The impressive Buxton left winger, Leandro Martis, opened the scoring with a superbly curled shot into Ben Garratt’s top left hand corner after 10 minutes. Two minutes later the robust Melford Simpson headed a second goal for the Bucks from Marti’s cross and Crewe had to show some early character to get back into the contest.
Of course, being the first run out in pre-season, it is all about growing fitness levels but Crewe had to come from behind to win. Callum Ainley drew one back with a tidy finish at the far post after midfielder Billy Bingham clipped an excellent delivery.
Crewe levelled before the half time interval following a free flowing passing move. James Jones was the driving force from midfield and his poked pass into Dagnall, allowed the experienced forward to get the ball out of his feet to calmly slot home his first goal for the club.
Crewe could have gone into the break ahead but the referee waved away a certain penalty when Ainley was tripped inside the box and Jon Guthrie was also foiled by a smart save after Lowe and Dagnall had combined.
As expected, Steve Davis made a number of changes at the half-time interval with only Garratt, Guthrie and trialist full-back Dan Alefi staying on.
One of the substitutes, Daniel Udoh fired Crewe ahead after good work down the left from Cooper and captain Turton. The strong forward guided home a close range finish after Turton had shifted the ball across the six yard box.
The Railwaymen could have stretched their advantage but the Buxton goalkeeper Jan Budtz made fine stops to deny Callum Saunders, Cooper and Udoh headed over from a good position.
Buxton hit the woodwork when Alastair Taylor’s cross nearly caught Garratt out and Cooper forced Butz’s to push his late free-kick onto the post. It would have been some goal from Cooper who had tried his luck from 30 yards.