Crewe Alexandra's under 18's side slipped to their second consecutive defeat this afternoon to Sheffield United but not without putting up a fighting performance.

The game started as a level playing field with the play split fairly evenly between the two sides. Within the first 20 minutes of the game, Crewe were the side looking most likely to score with Ben Marshall, AJ Leitch-Smith and Matt Lund having some good chances.

On 26 minutes, it was Sheffield that took the lead though. Joe Smith took the ball down the wing and into the box, working his way around the Crewe defence. He tried his shot over the heads just in front of him and luckily it ended up in the back of the net. Whether it was a meant as a cross or a shot is debatable but either way the visitors had took the lead.

Captain on the day Matt Lund, tried to come back into the game with a 25 yard shot but it was just wide of the post. United headed down the other end of the pitch on the counter attack though, Nathan Foster taking the ball through midfield and getting the better of the Alex defence. Lund chased him down put despite his best efforts couldn't prevent Foster's shot across goal. Minutes later and the same striker had a second effort but saw it go wide.

Crewe were pushing forward but Sheffield's lead had given them an extra boost of confidence.

A quiet start to the second half, it was Crewe that had the first chance following the break. Ben Marshall played Matt Lund into the box who was tripped right on the edge for a free kick. Marshall unfortunately couldn't do anything with it though and sent it into the arms of the waiting keeper.

Crewe were looking for that equaliser, and on 65minutes it came as Matt Tootle crossed the ball to AJ who lept for what looked like it was going to be a great header but was pushed in the process and awarded a penalty. Lund stepped up to take it and struck it well to make it 1-1.

Sheffield didn't let that affect them though, as they had a chance saved following a mistake from Kelvin Mellor. It was another defensive mistake though that led to Uniteds second goal of the game. Danny Shelley originally did well to win the tackle in the box, but let his guard down and lost out just as he had won the ball. Zeyn S. Latef immediately hit his shot just inside the box, and placed it in the bottom corner, keeper Platt diving to save it but stood no chance.

It seemed that small mistakes were costing the Alex. On 72 minutes, Sheffield made it 3-1. Jordan Slew wrestling between Tootle and Mellor, stuck his toe out to dip the ball up and over Platt.

The score line did not seem to affect the Crewe boys too much though, as they continued to fight to get back in the game.

Despite what had happened earlier in the game, Mellor did well defending another shot from Slew in the final 10 minutes. Substitute John Stephens tried to take advantage of a throw in from Sheffield to their keeper as he chased the ball but he missed the keepers pass by inches.

With just five minutes to go, the Alex defence almost cost their side another goal. Shelley made an inaccurate pass back to his keeper, putting it in the path of United's striker. Luckily the shot went over the cross bar.

Despite having played some good football during the game, the Alex seemed to play long balls down field. Centre-back Cheyenne Dunkley was commanding the side, keeping up the spirits on the pitch. And it worked. On 89 minutes, Crewe pulled back another goal from Matt Lund to make the score line look a little easier on the eye. Theo Stair played the ball to Alex Titchiner on the left of the box. Titchiner put a good ball into the box, and despite it being a crowded penalty area managed to score a good goal.