Play-Off hopes ended by Hornets defeat at Gresty Road
Crewe Alexandra Under 23's lost out to Watford in the penultimate league game of the season to effectively end any chance of making the end of season play-off picture.Alex Morris' side needed to beat the Hornets, win their last game at Sheffield United next week & hope other results went in their favour if they were to qualify.
In truth, The Alex never looked like winning the game against Watford, the team looking a far cry from the one who had gone ten games unbeaten with eight victories in that period.
The visitors could've taken the lead inside six minutes when striker Harvey Bradbury stretched on the by-line to strike off the post after Marcus Poscha headed past Andy Dawber despite big calls from the goalkeeper.
Watford has two further chances on 27 & 31 minutes through Max Ryan & Dion Pereira before Callum Saunders had Crewe's first real chance four minutes before the break.
Saunders watched Jamie Wilkinson's long ball come over his shoulder before volleying goalwards, forcing Hornets goalkeeper Charlie Bannister into a fine save.
Dan Udoh flashed a header wide just before the interval as it remained goalless for the interval.
The Hornets took control again in the second period & struck the crossbar on 64 minutes, Dennon Lewis cutting inside & curling his effort plumb off the centre of the woodwork with Dawber beaten.
But the breakthrough that had been threatening did come on 83 minutes, ironically just as Crewe started to put a bit of pressure on the Watford goal. Dawber could only parry a fierce drive from distance & substitute Ogo Obi picked up the rebound & rounded the goalkeeper to slot into an empty net.
The Alex tried to grab an equaliser, but instead the visitors sealed victory in the 94th minute with the last kick of the game. Sub Ola Adeyemo did well to hold up play in the corner before using his strength to burst inside & pull-back for Pereira to smash low into the corner to cap off a victory for the Hornets.
Morris' side will want to end the season on a high when they end their campaign at Sheffield United next Monday (April 24) after this unexpected blip.
Crewe: Dawber, Woodcock, Wilkinson, Poscha, Sass-Davies, Pickering, Finney, Kiwomya (Walley), Kirk, Saunders, Udoh (Reilly)