Crewe Alexandra's under 18's suffered a cruel defeat at the hands of Manchester United for their second consecutive defeat.

Despite a shaky start, Crewe had looked to have taken a point front the game, but a last minute fumble in the penalty box led to the winning goal for United.

Harry Davies was instrumental throughout the game, despite three goals being conceded, it could have been worse if it were not for the play of Davies and his fellow defenders.

Daniel Platt made a great save in the opening minutes to prevent United taking an early lead, but Crewe had their first chance of the game when Matt Tootle put in a good cross that should have lead to a goal, but Ben Marshall just didn't time his head right to connect with the ball. Minutes later and Marshall had another chances as Matt Lund and Alex Titchiner ran down field, and as Titchiner played in Marshall, his feet just didn't claim the pass well enough to unleash his shot.

15 minutes played at the visitors got their first goal of the game. Matt Lund, in an attempt to clear any danger, flicked the ball on with his head, but it unfortunately fell in the wrong direction and ended with the United striker putting the ball in the back of the net. Although they had fallen behind, Crewe were picking up as time went on, and ten minutes after they had conceded, Crewe had another chance to draw level. Titchiner broke free and ran well with the ball, he drilled his effort past the keeper and got the goal that Crewe had come to deserve.

The game was back on and Crewe had got a new bout of confidence, and just after half and hour took the lead, only for the celebration to be cut short as the linesman raised his flag. Tootle again provided the ball to Marshall, who picked out Jackson's run into the box, he scored a great sliding goal but the linesman deemed him as offside. It was a bitter blow.

Some good football continued as did the chances for the Alex, but they never mounted to the pulse of the back of the net. As half time was approaching, Crewe had yet another chance to take the lead, Marshall's free kick was well placed, and Matt Lund's diving header looked destined for goal, but instead, hit the post. Lund was in once more not too long after, having beaten three of United's players to get in the box, and in the end he put his shot wide.

Kelvin Mellor did well just seconds before the whistle blew for half time, United were just yards out of the goal and tried to grab the lead before the break, but some quick thinking from the centre half cleared the immediate danger as the whistle then blew.

The second half didn't start too well for the Alex. Just five minutes in, and United took the lead. Daniel Platt came a little too far out of his goal as United's quick striker came running at him, he lifted the ball over Platt and the resulting shot was cleared off the line by Chris Peel. He couldn't stop the rebound from being put over the line though, and the score line read 2-1.

Crewe's heads didn't drop though, they continued to push forward, Ben Marshall taking the ball forward, and although he claimed a penalty his effort was still rolling and looking like it was going to dribble over the line. United's defenders were alert though and collected the rolling ball and cleared it up the pitch. Our visitors went straight up to the other end though, and it was a vital tackle in the box that prevented a third goal at that time.

Just after the hour mark, Crewe put the score back level once again through Alex Titchiner. Marshall fed the ball through to Titchiner who chased forward and beat the keeper to the ball, taking it around the stopper and slotting home coolly.

The game continued with some good chances at either end, Harry Davies closing down his man well to stop him from putting in the crucial ball. It was United though that grabbed the winner, with just minutes left, a mix up at the back left United with the victory.

Crewe should not feel too down though as it was a good performance against one of the top sides in the Academy League, and a game that could have ended in a positive result had Crewe just had things go there way.