Crewe Alexandra's under 18's continued their run of success by picking up a 3-1 home victory over Bolton, despite going 1-0 down inside the first half an hour.
The game was an all round level playing field, but it didn't start well for Matt Freeman. In the first ten minutes he clashed with a Bolton defender near the corner flag and careered into and underneath a parked car. The injuries he picked up forced him to come off after 15 minutes being replaced by Jon Stephens.
Bolton had the first attack of the game, forcing Alex keeper Daniel Platt into a good save on his line. The Alex's first attack came on the 20-minute mark when Michael Koral shot from just outside the box just wide of the post.
Minutes later and Bolton took the lead. A good cross across the goalmouth went through to the far post to be tapped in by the Bolton striker.
The Alex responded well, and less than five minutes later, Jason Oswell was through on goal and brought down to be awarded a penalty. Joe O'Sullivan stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly made the ball hit the back of the net.
Bolton could have easily taken the lead as half time looked in sight, but there was some good defensive work from Cheyenne Dunkley and Oliver Turner to prevent any further goals being conceded.
It could easily have been 2-1 when Dunkley headed in a cross from O'Sullivan but the referee blew for a foul and the goal didn't stand. Jason Oswell wasted another good chance as the whistle approached with only the keeper to beat, he thought too long about his shot and passed back to Lewis Davenport who was surrounded by defenders. Davenport tried to shoot but his shot was deflected and the Bolton defence cleared the danger.
The Alex looked strong as the second half began and just after the hour mark Andy White had an effort cleared off the line, but minutes later and he was done by the Bolton winger, who raced past him, and with his eye on goal ran into the box with the string of Alex men chasing him. As he unleashed his shot Platt did well to keep it out, the deflection being sent far over the crossbar. It was a dangerous time, as the Alex rallied to prevent Bolton taking the lead once more. They were forced into more defensive work on 76 minutes when Turton once again proved his value at the back.
With ten minutes left on the clock, the Alex were in the lead. O'Sullivan took a short free kick, passing around the wall to the waiting Jon Stephens. He sent his shot across the goalmouth and straight into the bottom corner. Crewe just needed to search for that third goal and hold on defensively for another ten minutes to claim the victory.
Bolton almost grabbed an equaliser in the final minutes of the game. Just yards out it would have been so easy for them to just tap the ball over the line, but Platt gathered well and immediately sent the Alex on the counter attack. Stephens got his second of the game when he rounded the keeper well and with what looked like no effort at all, made sure the Alex finished the game with a good three points.
An all round good performance from Neil Critchley's boys and a well deserved victory.
Crewe: Platt, Turton, White, O'Sullivan, George, Dunkley, Freeman (Stephens), Rowntree, Oswell, Davenport (Ting), Koral
