Crewe's long wait for a game ended today with torrential rain in Dagenham clearing the Victoria Ground pitch off any remaining trace of snow. Crewe certainly couldn't use the playing surface as an excuse for their first defeat of 2010 thanks to first-half strikes from the impressive Josh Scott and Danny Green.
Crewe had actually started the first half an hour in an impressive fashion but couldn't take any of the chances that came their way. As has happened on too many occasions this season, Crewe then conceded two avoidable goals to see us playing catch-up in the second half.
Although Crewe did control much of the possession in the second period, their only clear cut chances saw the veteran goalkeeper Tony Roberts save from Mat Mitchel-King early on from a corner and then Steven Schumacher late on.
After 20 days without a competitive match, Crewe Alexandra resumed their Coca-Cola League Two at promotion hunting Dagenham and Redbridge - the side they lost 2-1 to on the opening day of the season.
With the Railwaymen losing their leading goalscorer Calvin Zola in the week due to an eye injury, as expected Shaun Miller returning to the starting line-up for the trip south. He partnered the in-form Clayton Donaldson upfront. Byron Moore who had started at Moss Rose dropped back to the substitutes bench.
Dario Gradi also made two changes to the side that lost 4-1 to Macclesfield way back on 28th December. Mat Mitchel-King returned to captain the side ahead of Harry Worley and Simon Walton returned for Danny Shelley.
Defender Carl Martin, who signed from Wealdstone in the summer, was named in the first-team squad for the first time and Academy youngster Chris Clements was back on the substitutes bench following an illness over Christmas.
Despite the recent snow and the torrential rain we have been having in 2010, the pitch was in an immaculate condition at kick-off. The prolific Paul Benson had an early sight at the Crewe goal but Mitchel-King applied enough of a block to deflect into the arms of Steve Phillips. Almost immediately, the pace of Donaldson saw him through on goal but a late flag from the referee's assistant halted him in his tracks. It was a late decision to say the least.
After five minutes of play, Schumacher just wasn't quite tall enough to reach a clipped cross from Luke Murphy at the far post, after some lively pressurising from Miller.In a fairly open beginning to the game, the Daggers dangerman Benson drilled a shot into the side netting from an acute angle.
In the tenth minute, a corner struck low by Ashley Westwood caused a scramble inside the Dagenham and Redbridge penalty area. After a couple of Alex players tried to apply a definite touch on the ball, it was left to full-back John Brayford to force the first real save of the afternoon from the veteran stopper Tony Roberts. The same player also couldn't quite reach another delivery from Westwood from another corner from the right hand side.
Crewe had made an encouraging start to the game and after a clever pass from Murphy, the lively Donaldson had a sight at the Dagenham goal - but a superb covering tackle from Dagenham's captain Mark Arber only resulted in a corner for the visitors.
It really should have been 1-0 to the Railwaymen on 16 minutes after some great approach play from Miller. His pace took him clear of the Dagenham defence and his cut-back to the edge of the six-yard box for Schumacher should have resulted in the opening goal. To be fair to the Crewe midfielder, who had arrived late in the penalty area, he was stretching a bit to reach it and couldn't quite turn it beyond Roberts.
Benson and his strike partner Josh Scott combined for the first time on 17 minutes and after tricking his way past O'Donnell, the Crewe defender needed the covering Matt Tootle to help him out when clearing Scott's shot ahead of the diving Phillips.
The Alex left-back didn't take any chances with it and elected to clear for a corner for the home side. A minute later and a fine cross from Danny Green had Benson having his first real chance at goal, but Phillips was perfectly placed to make the save look easy.
Crewe produced the best bit of football to create a real opportunity for Miller just before the half an hour mark. Some neat interchange of passing involving Walton, Westwood and Murphy found the supportive Brayford on the edge of the Dagenham box and his first time cross so nearly reached Miller. To be fair, it was only an excellently timed tackle from Scott Doe that prevented Miller from getting a clean touch on his shot. There were certainly chances there for the Railwaymen against a side that have been in the top six for the majority of the season.
Somewhat against the run of play, Dagenham took the lead on 35 minutes. Danny Green, who had found Benson earlier, this time, picked out his strike partner Scott and his deft header looped over the dive of Phillips and into the top corner of the net. It was a little harsh on the Alex as they had arguably created the better of the chances, but with the lively Scott and Benson, the home side were always a threat.
Five minutes before the break, things got doubly worse for the Railwaymen when conceding yet another avoidable goal. Walton was caught in possession by Danny Spiller and after failing to get close enough to Green, the winger's low shot defeated Phillips from the edge of the penalty area.
It was nearly game over by the break after Green, yet again, was granted too much freedom and only a fine double save from the busier Phillips prevented him and then Benson on the rebound from making it 3-0 going into the interval.
In the opening two minutes of the second half, Crewe nearly get themselves a lifeline from a Westwood corner. Mat Mitchel-King climbed highest inside a crowded penalty area but his firm header was clawed away one handed by Roberts. It was a superb save from the vastly experienced goalkeeper.
Donaldson had the ball in the net after he had collected a pass from Tootle on his chest, but again the referee's flag had ruled him offside. The Crewe forwards were being caught out on too many occasions by the Dagenham and Redbridge back line.
Following a swift counter attack, Scott nearly finished Crewe off just before the hour mark but Mitchel-King applied just enough on his shot to see it past the left hand post. If Benson had anticipated his strike partner's shot he could have helped himself to a tap in. It was a let off for the Railwaymen.
Westwood cleared the crossbar with a free-kick before Crewe made their first change of the afternoon on 63 minutes with Murphy coming off for Moore. Donaldson moved out to the right hand side as Crewe went with three up the front.
Almost immediately, some good work from Donaldson created a half chance for Schumacher, but his downward header was straight at Roberts from just outside of the six-yard box. Crewe were making half chances but not enough to really trouble the home side, who had the comfort of that two goal advantage given to them in the first half by Scott and Green.
In a flurry forward, Benson shot over from 20 yards out and O'Donnell had to be alert to prevent the same player from reaching yet another dangerous delivery from the impressive Green.
With 18 minutes remaining, Miller made way for Danny Shelley. That change saw Donaldson move back through the middle. Dagenham also made a change of their own with Graeme Montgomery with Marlon Pack coming off.
Crewe needed a goal to make the final 10 minutes interesting but although we dominated the football didn't really test Roberts enough to set-up that grandstand finish. Shelley, coming in off the wing, played some neat passes to Donaldson in behind the Dagenham and Redbridge defence. Doe produced another splendid tackle to prevent Donaldson from racing through.
Dagenham had the luxury of introducing Jon Nurse for the excellent Scott, who had been stretching off for a few minutes before being withdrawn.
With Crewe pressing forward looking for a goal that could have made it interesting, Schumacher did force Roberts into an outstanding save with four minutes remaining. His low shot was destined for the bottom left hand corner but Roberts got down to tip to around the post. It was Crewe's last chance of perhaps staging a comeback.
