Crewe Alexandra's youth team cruised through the first round of the FA Youth Cup, but not without one or two pressurising times.

Although Crewe looked the stronger of the two sides, Bury still found their ways of pushing forward and threatening the goal. However, it was a goal in either half for Crewe that saw the 2-0 victory.

Within the first five minutes of the game Crewe had a good chance when a header from Alex Titchiner hit the cross bar after Danny Shelley put in a good ball. It took another 20 minutes of play before another good chance fell for the Alex, Ben Marshall taking the ball forward and picking out Shelley. The defender whipped the ball in to Titchiner, who was waiting in the box, but he was closed down well and could only send his shot wide.

Just before half an hour of play and the first goal came. Titchiner was brought down on the edge of the box by Luke Charnley, and captain on the night, Ben Marshall stepped up to take the resulting free kick. It was struck superbly and went straight into the near top corner. It seemed to give the Alex a bit more life, as it wasn't long until another chance prevailed. Theo Stair put a good cross in that was well placed, but just couldn't meet the head of Matt Freeman. Stair got a chance himself not long before the break when Marshall completed a good turn to avoid his man, placed the ball at Stair's feet and from just outside the penalty area sent the ball inches wide of the target. The striker followed that up just two minutes later from a Shelley free kick. Titchiner chested the ball down, but Theo again put it wide.

The break seemed to have given Bury an extra boost as they came out all guns blazing searching for an equaliser. And they thought they had it within minutes of coming out onto the pitch. Nathan Tosum hit a curling shot into the back of the net, but was ruled offside and the goal was wiped off.

Crewe were not put off by Bury's new determination as they raced forward once more. Some good work between Marshall, Freeman and Titchiner could have led to a second goal for Crewe, but Bury's defence was a ive and cleared the threat. Michael Jackson had a good chance soon after, but Shelley's cross was met by the waiting defender before Jackson could get his foot to it.

An hour of play was approaching, and Kevin Fields took a free kick for Bury. It was rebounded off the wall, but he picked it back up, took it around the Crewe defence with some good play and Matthew Tootle did well to clear. Fields was back on the attack soon after picking the ball up in midfield, passing down to Chris Mason who made a further run downfield and shot from 20 yards out that was met by a good save from Crewe stopper Daniel Platt.

On 62 minutes, Marshall was given some space on the edge of the box, something Bury could have regretted but he couldn't repeat his free kick curl and his shot went over the crossbar. Minutes later and Crewe doubled their lead. Matt Freeman used his pace to get the better of his man, picked out Titchiner who was racing into the penalty box. He hit his shot but the keeper dived to save it, Michael Jackson picked up the rebound and slotted it over the line.

It wasn't long before the Alex could have made it three. A scramble in the box from a Marshall free kick saw feet everywhere, the ball ended with Titchiner but unfortunately he couldn't get the shot on target.

Crewe had the better chances of the game as it drew to a close but couldn't quite find that third goal. In the end it wasn't required, and the youngsters booked themselves a ticket into the second round where they will face Stockport County.

Here what Manager Neil Critchley thought about the game on Crewe Alex World.