Back in sunny August, Crewe Alexandra scored four goals at Blundell Park to set up their first away win of the season. They scored four again this evening against a different looking Grimsby Town side to bounce back from Saturday's disappointing draw with Barnet.
In an entertaining game that ebbed and flowed, especially in the first half, Crewe took the lead twice with well taken finishes from wingers Byron Moore and Joel Grant only to be see that advantage evaporate thanks to a fine individual goal from Jean Louis Akpa Akpro and another from loan signing Dean Sinclair.
Thankfully, Crewe tightened up at the back in the second half and finished off the relegation threatened Mariners with a superb finish from Man-of-the-Match Ashley Westwood and Clayton Donaldson in stoppage time. The only negative was a first red card for Carl Martin for a tackle and tussle with Michael Leary in the centre circle. Martin, who had replaced the injured Matt Tootle in the first half had performed admirably at left-back and was hugely disappointed to be dismissed. His tackle was high though and caught Leary on his shin.
As promised Dario Gradi made a couple of changes which meant Crewe were a lot more attack minded with Byron Moore returning to the team on the right wing and Westwood moving back into the centre of midfield ahead of the on-loan Simon Walton.
The other alteration saw Mat Mitchel-King return to the centre of defence in place of Harry Worley, who dropped back down to the substitutes bench.
With a more attack-minded 4-4-2, the Alex were out of the blocks on the front foot with Moore just failing to reach an early cross from Shaun Miller. Then on 6 minutes, Donaldson had the opportunity to open the scoring after being put clear by Moore but unlike Saturday his effort hit the legs of Nick Colgan. The loose ball fell to Westwood but his follow up shot was blocked.
Crewe were certainly threatening to take an early lead and only a smart tip around the post from Colgan prevented Miller from doing so. Miller, who began the game strongly, then volleyed one just wide after the right hand post after the ball was cleared to the edge of the Grimsby box.
On the break, Grimsby, who had won their first game in 25 games on Saturday with an impressive 3-0 win over Shrewsbury were a threat with the pace and presence of Akpa Akpro. Their first real chance of the night fell to Michael Coulson though on 15 minutes, but John Brayford produced a timely recovery tackle to deny him a clean strike at goal.
Five minutes later and Miller really should have given Crewe the lead after Bailey had found him just outside of the six-yard box with the pass of the night. Perhaps a little surprised that the ball had surpassed the entire Grimsby rearguard, Miller rushed his effort and tamely side footed it straight at Colgan. It was a golden opportunity and Miller knew he should have tested the Grimsby keeper more than he did.
Miller tried to make up for his miss with an acrobatic effort after Moore had returned a Westwood free-kick back into a crowded penalty area. From the resultant corner, Mat Mitchel-King headed straight at the well-placed Colgan.
Crewe's domination of the early chances finally paid off just before the half an hour mark. Bailey's accurate delivery to the far post, was well headed down by Miller into the feet and Moore to give the recalled youngster a clear shot at goal. He didn't miss although Colgan did get his hand on the shot to turn it against the post. Thankfully, it bounced in rather than out.
A minute after taking the lead, Miller had the chance to slip Westwood in but didn't release it in time and those costly missed opportunities would come back to haunt us on 32 minutes. There didn't appear that much danger after Peter Sweeney had turned Westwood on the centre circle before releasing the willing runner Akpa Akpro. The Frenchman didn't have too much support but continued to progress towards the Alex box.
A tackle was not that forthcoming with O'Donnell back peddaling to his box and Akpa Akpro was allowed to make his way into the Crewe box before placing his low shot past Phillips. Crewe had back peddled too much and had invited the pressure but that is taking nothing away from the skill and determination of the Grimsby striker.
To their enormous credit though, Crewe hit back almost immediately and scored another splendid team goal. Westwood and Bailey were again involved in the build up and another long ball into the Grimsby box had them on the back foot. Again, Miller did well to lay off a pass to Moore, who in turn found Grant on an overlap. Grant calmly passed his shot beyond a helpless Colgan for his 8th goal of the campaign.
Grimsby were forced into a substitution when Jamie Devitt was forced off with an injury to be replaced by Nick Hegarty. The Grimsby sub was soon involved in the Mariners second equaliser on 41 minutes. Crewe failed to clear their lines and Dean Sinclair nipped into the 6-yard to score from close range. To make matters worse, we also lost Tootle through injury in the build up to the goal and he had to make way for Martin.
An entertaining first half ended 2-2. It was much the same in the second half with both sides looking to attack. Early on a fine run from the confident Martin set up a chance for the opposite full-back Brayford, whose drilled shot was well held by Colgan.
Ten minutes into the second half, Crewe regained the lead through the influential Westwood, after he had pulled possession down in the centre circle. Another splendid ball over the top from Bailey set the quick Donaldson through yet again and his clever pull back from the by-line found the onrushing Westwood and without breaking stride he placed his shot into the top corner. It was a wonderful finish again from the emerging youngster.
The game then became the Miller show for a short while. The striker tormented the Grimsby defence with his pace and forceful runs and was unlucky not to hit the target with two great efforts. His bursts had everything but the finish.
Grant nearly caught out Colgan with a cross-come-shot but the keeper did well to tip it over. Moments later, Brayford forced another save from the busy Grimsby keeper. In an attempt to freshen things up, the Grimsby boss Neil Woods introduced Michael Leary and Adam Proudlock for Sweeney and Coulson.
On 63 minutes, Proudlock was quickly involved in the play and his deep cross to the far post brought a stunning save from Phillips after Lee Peacock had got his head to it.
Grimsby had their moments to draw level once again with Akpa Akpro turning Martin and firing straight at Phillips.
After surviving those two slight scares, Donaldson had a chance to seal it after being played through by Miller but he shot just wide of the far post.
With one goal just in it, Grimsby were always in the game and their chances of salvaging a point increased when Martin was red carded on 85 minutes. The defender got himself in a muddle and after losing control of the ball he was high on Leary and deserved the first red card of his career.
Crewe had to see out the final few minutes with ten men. Westwood moved to left back with Schumacher coming on for the sacrificed Grant.
Although Crewe were a man down, it was us finishing on a high with Donaldson finishing off a spirited Grimsby side with his third goal in two games in stoppage time. He raced onto a long ball from Bailey, to cut inside and shoot past Colgan to seal a deserved 4-2 win for the Alex.
