Ryan Lowe scored his first and second league goals of the season as Crewe Alexandra ended a run of six games without a win with a hard-fought victory over Luton. Lowe had a point to prove too after being left out of the original starting eleven, but he was given his chance early when Lee Barnard was unable to continue after suffering an ankle injury. Lowe grabbed his reprieve with both hands, showing real composure to slot twice past Luton Town keeper Ben Alnwick.
Although Luton Town enjoyed much of the possession in the second half they couldn't find a way past Ben Williams. The closest they came to making a real game of it saw their own substitute David Edwards poke a shot against the foot of the Crewe post. It so nearly crept over the line and would have put Crewe under intense pressure in the closing stages of the game, but it would have been a little harsh on Crewe if we had gone on to surrender a two-goal lead because the players worked tirelessly to protect what we had thanks to Lowe.
New loan signing Simon Church was given his Football League debut after completing his month loan from Reading. The teenager ran his socks off and had a hand in both goals for his strike partner too. He could be pleased with his contribution.
Crewe Alexandra's first team coach Steve Holland was forced into that substitution when Lee Barnard was unable to continue after receiving a hefty whack on his ankle from Richard Jackson after just two minutes. The on-loan striker from Tottenham striker tried to run the injury off, but he had to be replaced by Lowe in the 8th minute.
Early on Byron Moore nearly connected with a deep free kick from Steven Schumacher. Luton Town's first opportunity saw the vastly experienced Paul Furlong fling himself at a David Bell knock back across the six-yard box.
The Railwaymen started brightly this afternoon and deservedly took the lead after just 13 minutes. Moore and Schumacher combined superbly to release the free running Church down the Luton left hand side channel. The Reading youngster then found his captain Neil Cox on the edge of the Luton penalty area, his drilled shot was deflected into the path of Lowe and he coolly slotted it past Alnwick for the opening goal.
Kevin Blackwell's side were always prepared to use their strength and power to try and impose themselves on the game. Alan Goodall was cautioned for a late tackle on Ben Rix. Jackson was rather fortunate not to booked for his tackle on Barnard, which led to the early injury.
From a resultant free kick, the eager Lowe so nearly reached a Billy Jones delivery, before Church had a shot blocked after linking up well with Lowe.
Church was quick onto a super pass from Lowe and looked odds on to score but Chris Perry retreated well to block his shot at the death. Luton were struggling to really conjure up too many opportunities, but Furlong was always a threat and he thumped a dipping half volley over the cross bar. Midfielder David Bell then dragged a shot wide from a decent position.
Five minutes before the break though, Crewe doubled their lead with a fine team goal. Ben Rix, who was impressive again this afternoon was involved again putting Church into space. Church lifted his head up and picked out Lowe superbly. He took it into the box, spun past the lunge of Jaroslaw Fojut before again deceiving Alnwick for a second time. Crewe were in the driving seat and it nearly got even better with Lowe having another low shot saved by Alnwick.
Just before the break, Crewe lost their second player of the afternoon when defender Julien Baudet was forced off with a muscle strain. Daniel O'Donnell replaced him.
As you would expect from a side trailing 2-0, Kevin Blackwell's side came out with real purpose in the second period and had much more of the possession. O'Donnell's first involvement saw Matthew Spring fire a shot against him in the opening minute of the second half.
A couple of minutes later Crewe lost a third player through injury! George Abbey aggravated a hamstring muscle after releasing Ryan Lowe with a pass. The former Port Vale and Macclesfield Town defender was unable to continue and that meant Gary Roberts had to fill in at right back. He didn't put a foot wrong either.
Luton went in search of a lifeline goal, with Calvin Andrew firing straight at Ben Williams and Bell firing just over the top of the bar.
Church was after a debut goal too and he thumped a shot against the back of a defender, just before the visitors made their first switch of the afternoon with Dean Morgan coming on for Andrew.
Luton could have made a real game of it when a Darren Currie cross was headed just wide of the mark by Bell. He would have been disappointed not to have hit the target from there.
Although forced into three changes, the Alex still had their moments in the second half with Ben Rix so nearly getting the ball out his feet to get a shot off and Lowe having a shot blocked just in front of Alnwick after some more great approach play involving Rix and Church. Soon after Rix had a swerving volley blocked by his own man Church! It hit on the back of the head.
Luton were still after that all-important next goal though and enjoyed a lot of the possession. Morgan fired over the top, after a clever knock down from the very aware Furlongand then the former Chelsea and QPR striker flung himself at another cross from Bell but couldn't keep his powerful header down.
Blackwell also introduced the fresh legs of Edwards and Steve Robinson for Don Hutchinson and Jackson. Edwards shot straight at Williams before nearly creeping that top-poked effort past the Alex keeper. Time seemed to stand still as the ball struck the post and trickled across the line. Billy Jones was handily placed to whack the ball away from the danger zone.
Still Luton came forward looking to halve our advantage but the Alex defence stood firm and Williams was hardly tested. Matthew Spring came closest with a powerful shot, which just about clear the Crewe crossbar.
Crewe held on to a well-earned victory and a vital three points against an experienced Luton side. Now we will just have to assess the damage to our players, who have picked up knocks.
