Halloween came a week early for Crewe Alexandra as they were once again haunted by one of their former players. This time it was striker Luke Rodgers, who put Notts County into the driving seat here at Meadow Lane with a 28th minute opener. Rodgers, who never really established himself as a regular at Gresty Road due to the emergence of Nicky Maynard and Luke Varney scored against us again after previously doing so for Port Vale. He was gifted far too space when collecting a pass from Johnnie Jackson, before firing past Button for the opener.
Rodgers didn't claim the Man-of-the-Match award though, with that particular accolade going to the Notts County goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. His outstanding contribution saw him save superbly to deny Joel Grant twice and then save a crucial penalty from Steven Schumacher with just over 15 minutes remaining. At that stage of the game, Crewe had found themselves 2-0 behind thanks to a fine individual run and finish from County's winger Craig Westcarr.
If Schumacher had been successful from the penalty spot then it could have been a very different closing period of the game, but it wasn't to be as Notts County took control of the remaining minutes with Schmeichel again denying substitute Shaun Miller.
Crewe Alexandra welcomed back Clayton Donaldson from injury for his first start since breaking his fibula away at Bournemouth back in late August. In the absence of the injured Calvin Zola (groin), Donaldson led the line up front with Joel Grant selected in a new role as the second striker.
Luke Murphy also returned to the starting line-up after missing the last two games with a knee injury. Billy Jones' untimely hamstring strain kept him on the sidelines once again, with Ashley Westwood continuing at left-back.
Notts County with caretaker managers' Michael Johnson and Dave Kemp in charge picked the former Crewe Alexandra striker Luke Rodgers in their starting line-up.
After a brief downpour, the match at Meadow Lane actually kicked off in bright sunshine. After Notts County had pushed forward in the opening couple of minutes, Donaldson latched on to a wayward header from Mike Edwards and shot just wide of Kasper Schmeichel's right hand post. It was a promising early contribution from Crewe's recalled striker.
Rodgers' first involvement saw him threaten the goal from the Crewe left hand side after Johnnie Jackson had pinched possession from the toes of James Bailey in the centre circle. The retreating Bailey blocked Rodgers' eventual shot after the Alex midfielder had recovered well from his earlier mistake.
Both teams settled into a tidy rhythm of passing but in terms of genuine chances they were few and far between in the early exchanges.
After 17 minutes of play, Daniel Jones and then Ben Davies had shots blocked with Ada standing firm to deflect Davies goal bound effort behind for a corner. From Davies corner, a melee ensued in front of David Button with Crewe rather fortunate to escape. Firstly, Lee Hughes poked an effort under the grounded Button that the well-positioned Westwood did exceedingly well to get it off the line.
With Crewe unable to clear the danger, Craig Westcarr had two more attempts at our goal, the second of which rebounded firmly off of the frame of the goal. Crewe were rather lucky not to have fallen behind after Notts County's first, real meaningful attack of the afternoon.
Minutes later, the advanced Edwards clattered into the Alex skipper Mat Mitchel-King and was rightly cautioned by referee JJ Linnington. The game then had a short stoppage as Joel Grant received treatment after he was accidentally called in the face by a stray arm.
When the match resumed, it didn't take Rodgers too long to put the home side ahead. Jackson slid the former Crewe man behind the Alex defence, and before Mat Mitchel-King could get across to provide any resistance, he dispatched his finish beyond the helpless Button. It was a fine finish from Rodgers, who now has five goals this season.
From a Crewe perspective, the Alex rearguard had granted Rodgers far too much room when collecting the pass from Jackson.
In reply, Brayford had an effort from distance blocked as did Donaldson after he had cut in from the left wing. Other than that, Schmeichel was a spectator for much of the first half.
The former Manchester City goalkeeper was called into action though on 43 minutes, after a wonderful piece of skill from Grant. He collected a pass from Murphy and spun past Edwards superbly to leave him one-on-one with the young Dane. Grant got his shot off by Schmeichel made a fine one handed save to deny Grant an equaliser. Grant's follow up shot was then blocked by the recovering Edwards. It was comfortably, Crewe's best moment of the first half.
Grant started the second half like he ended the first. He linked up superbly with Murphy to by-pass much of the Notts County defence and after making his way into the penalty area he forced another save from Schmeichel. This time, the agile Notts County keeper pushed his effort over the bar for what was our first corner of the game.
A frantic opening to the second half saw Rodgers put the ball into the Crewe net again but the 'goal' was quickly chalked off for offside. The referee's assistant flag had been raised almost immediately after Hughes had laid possession to Rodgers.
Back up the other end, Murphy didn't get enough power or direction with his header following a cross from Dan Shelley. In the ensuing scramble, both Murphy and Donaldson tried to apply a decisive touch but Lee managed to clear the danger from within a crowded six-yard box.
Thankfully, after an open five minutes or so of the second period, the supporters' could draw breath again. Saying that a resurgent Crewe were growing in confidence and Grant should really have done better with his pass on the edge of the Notts County penalty area after he had been sent clear by Donaldson. Grant delayed his pass into the better placed Murphy for too long.
It was brighter from the Alex though, with Schumacher seeing a deflected shot loop into the arms of Schmeichel.
With the individuals they possess in their team though, Notts County were always going to a threat when the ball was in-and-around our penalty area. Matt Ritchie couldn't control an ambitious shot after Hughes had headed a high ball back into his path, but he was a lot closer just a minute later and Ada did well to divert the shot behind for a corner.
Hughes also fired over the top of the bar, after his turn saw Mitchel-King slip and fall over in front of him. Ritchie went close with his third effort and perhaps should have made it 2-0 after a cross from Rodgers soon became a problem for Button. The Alex keeper had to back peddle and from under his cross bar, could only palm the ball out at his far post, where the onrushing Ritchie nodded rather harmlessly behind.
The pressure being produced from the home side finally paid dividends on 66 minutes with Westcarr drifting past Bailey and Brayford with too much ease before dispatching a shot from 20 yards past Button. County had the comfort of a two-goal lead and were searching for more.
Notts County then elected to make a couple of changes with their front two of Rodgers and Hughes making way for Karl Hawley and Ade Akinbiyi - as is the firepower the pre-season favourites for promotion possess.
Dario also made a switch with Donaldson making way for Moore. Soon after Shaun Miller came on for Murphy. Grant moved back to the left wing.
A floating free-kick from Schumacher nearly caught out Schmeichel, who was grateful that Mat Mitchel-King didn't make contact from close range. The award of a corner was bizarre and it was no surprise that after the home side had vented their frustration at the incorrect decision that the official instantly awarded a free-kick to the home side.
The home crowd were even more incensed when he awarded Crewe a penalty for a push on Grant by John Thompson. The Notts County captain nudged Grant in the back as he was about to get his head onto a cross from Moore. Thompson was booked.
With our usual penalty taker Billy Jones ruled out through injury, Schumacher took the responsibility but saw his spot-kick pushed away by Schmeichel. With just over 15 minutes remaining, it could have led to a grandstand finish.
It didn't take Akinbiyi long to be cautioned for dissent towards the referee. Crewe made their third and final substitution of the afternoon with Aman Verma replacing Grant.
With time running out for Crewe, our best chance fell to Miller after some promising build up play involving subs Moore and Verma. Again Schmeichel stood firm to deny Crewe a goal after Miller had turned Lee sharply.
Notts County rather successfully retained possession for the remaining minutes and didn't present Crewe with any more opportunities to get back into the game. In fact, it was the energetic Matt Ritchie having the final effort with another probing run into the Crewe penalty area, but again Ada hooked the danger clear of our goal.
