Despite Nicky Maynard's fifth goal in his last four matches, Crewe couldn't prevent a loss at Luton this afternoon. Maynard had drew the Alex level just before the hour mark, poking a shot past the advanced Dean Brill for his 9th goal of the season. That goal had cancelled out Matty Spring's early opener following a mix-up in the Alex defence and the former Leeds and Watford midfielder would prove the overall match winner for Mick Harford's Hatters. Spring converted a 76th minute winning penalty for the home side after Paddy Boyle had felled Ryan Charles inside the box.
The 2-1 defeat leaves Crewe fight against relegation very much in the balance after Gillingham picked up a point against promotion seeking Carlisle United this afternoon.
Steve Holland was forced into making a couple of changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Walsall on Easter Monday. Irishman Steve Jones returned to Gresty Road on deadline day and started in an attacking three involving Nicky Maynard and another loanee Joe Anyinsah. The wide man from Preston North East was drafted into the side because Dean Morgan was not permitted to play against his parent club. Striker Tom Pope was also ruled out with a broken toe.
Crewe Alexandra's Michael O'Connor had the first attempt on goal but he couldn't keep his long range shot down. The game had barely settled down into any sort of rhythm before the home side went ahead. It was well taken finish by the Luton midfielder Matthew Spring but his job was made a lot easier by a defensive mix-up in the Crewe back four.
Centre half Danny Woodards didn't make a sufficient clearance and on receiving possession Spring was alert enough to have seen that Ben Williams had strayed from his line. The Alex keeper was caught in no mans land as Spring's clever chip drifted over his head and into the empty net. It had been an awful start for the Alex with just four minutes played.
Jones tried to respond fairly quickly but his drilled shot from an Anyinsah pass was deflected behind for a corner. Soon after Lewis Emanuel had a similar effort for the home side but after cutting in from his left wing position, his goal bound effort was deflected behind for a corner by the outstretched leg of George Abbey.
On 16 minutes, Crewe survived a decent shout for a penalty when Emanuel's cross into the box certainly clipped the hand of Abbey. It would have been a little harsh, but you have certainly seen them given in the past.
Amazingly, just five minutes later Crewe had a similar appeal rejected by the referee, as a cross from Jones appeared to strike the hand of the covering Spring. Jones certainly appealed but again nothing was forthcoming from the well positioned official.
One thing was for sure, Crewe were finding it increasingly difficult to clear their lines in the early part of the afternoon. Perhaps the sogginess of the pitch wasn't helping, but strangely we couldn't seem to get much distance on our clearances up the pitch.
Nine minutes before the half-time break, Paul McVeigh had a great opportunity to double the home side's advantage. The former Norwich City man raced clear but dragged his shot just wide of Ben Williams' right hand post. It was another lucky escape for an out-of-sorts-looking Crewe.
One of Crewe's best chances in a half (where they were limited) saw a looping cross-come-shot from the advanced Abbey force the fairly redundant Dean Brill in the Luton goal to back peddle a little to combat the swirling ball.
With just a couple of minutes remaining before the interval, the impressive Spring then forced Williams into a noteworthy save. His well-struck shot from 25 yards was tipped around the post by the Alex number one for another Luton corner.
In the opening minute of the second period, Maynard had his first sight of the Luton goal. After the play was switched to the left hand side and the run of Paddy Boyle, a neat one-two between Anyinsah and Maynard saw the young Crewe striker fire into the gloves of Brill.
Almost immediately, Woodards became the first player to be booked for a trip on Ryan Charles as Luton tried to conjure up a chance at the other end of the pitch.
O'Connor soon joined him for a tug on Stephen O'Leary's shirt. Ten minutes and a sweeping cross nearly picked out a late run from Gary Roberts. Brill cut it out before the Alex midfielder had a chance to reach it.
Two minutes later and it was Luton's turn to register a shot on target. O'Leary tested Williams in the slippery conditions.
Crewe Alexandra drew level on 58 minutes with Maynard stealing in behind Don Hutchinson to score his 9th goal of the season and his fifth goal in four matches. Maynard raced clear onto a Kenny Lunt pass to poke it past Brill for a much-needed equaliser.
The Alex were certainly having the better of it now with Maynard having a shot blocked and Joe Anyinsah flashing another shot well wide of the mark.
That prompted a chance for Luton with McVeigh making way for Calvin Andrew.
Some good work from Roberts provided Jones with his first effort on goal but he shot tamely at Brill from just inside the Luton penalty area. The match was evenly poised.
Spring became the first Luton player to be cautioned for a late tackle on Jones. Soon afterwards Crewe lost Danny Woodards through injury. The defender seemed to be struggling with a sore ankle and had to be replaced by McCready.
Substitute Andrew gave McCready an early introduction with a shot which drifted just wide of Williams post and then the influential Spring had another shot blocked by Lunt. Luton were certainly back in the game and pressing looking for another goal.
It so nearly came on 75 minutes. O'Leary played in the fresh legs of Andrew. His powerful shot drew a fine one handed save from Williams. From the resultant corner, Crewe found it difficult to clear their lines and we ended up paying the ultimate price. Paddy Boyle went to ground in the box and his messy challenge on Ryan Charles saw referee Oliver point to the penalty spot. Spring composed himself to score his second goal of the afternoon.
Time was against the Alex and with 7 minutes remaining, Steve Holland made a couple of changes with Bopp and Moore coming on for Jones and Anyinsah.
A flowing move that saw Roberts cleverly dummy a pass from Boyle to allow Lunt find Abbey in space. His accurate cross picked out Maynard, but on the slide Maynard couldn't quite control his volley and get it on target.
With just three minutes left Spring came awfully close to grabbing a hat-trick. His powerfully struck shot from the edge of the Crewe box was tipped over by the flying Williams. It would have been some goal too.
Luton were catching Crewe on the break and Charles was a little unfortunate to seal the points when his late shot went just wide.
Try as they might, the Railwaymen just couldn't conjure up that one real chance which may have seen us snatch a point.
