Crewe Alexandra secured their fourth away win of the season with an impressive 4-0 win at Whaddon Road. Calvin Zola returned to the starting line-up after injury to help himself to another brace to take his personal tally to 12 for the season. Steven Schumacher also helped himself to another goal and young Danny Shelley completed the rout with his first goal of the season.
Crewe didn't have it all our own way though with Cheltenham striking the woodwork three times, but the visitors were certainly good value for the victory and if if wasn't for the Cheltenham keeper Scott Brown it could have been a few more too.
With goalkeeper Steve Collis taken unwell in the morning and David Button recalled to Tottenham during the week, Adam Legzdins started in goal at Whaddon Road.
The club received International clearance yesterday thus allowing Frenchman Bertrand Bossu to be a late call up to the squad. The former Gillingham keeper was named on the substitutes bench, which also included club captain Billy Jones, who shook off a slight hamstring strain to make the trip south.
As expected top scorer, Calvin Zola, returned to the starting line-up after missing last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Notts County with a groin injury. The return of the club's main target man meant Clayton Donaldson dropped back to the bench after making his return from the broken leg he sustained away at Bournemouth back in August.
Joel Grant was moved back to his more familiar wing role with Luke Murphy the unfortunate one to miss out. Shaun Miller returned to the starting line-up after coming on a second half substitute at Meadow Lane last week.
Crewe Alexandra enjoyed some good pressure and forced four corners in the opening four minutes of play. Although the visitors never troubled the Cheltenham goalkeeper Scott Brown following any of those early set-plays, Joel Grant did see a powerful shot blocked by Drissa Diallo after Mat Mitchel-King had headed Steven Schumacher's corner back across goal.
Legzdins was nearly caught out in possession with his first involvement in the game by Elvis Hammond after taking his eye of the ball, but he recovered in time to stretch and clear the ball into touch.
The first attempt on goal came after just 7 minutes with James Bailey picking out Miller with a splendid cross-field pass. Miller did everything right to control the pass but his powerful half volley was superbly pushed away by Brown.It was a wonderful save from point blank range.
Just 60 seconds later, another great free-kick delivery from Bailey picked out full-back John Brayford but he couldn't quite keep his header down. To be fair to Brayford he had to stretch to get anything on it and his header sailed over the bar.
After a slow start, Cheltenham were rather unfortunate not to take the lead on 11 minutes when Crewe didn't respond to a short free-kick quickly or well enough. They gave former trialist Michael Pook too much time and space to find Frankie Artus and his wonderfully struck shot from 25 yards out thumped the Crewe crossbar. Legzdins was beaten and needed the covering Westwood to block a follow-up shot from Hammond.
The experienced Julian Alsop was always a threat in the air and one of his clever knockdowns was sliced well wide by Pook from a good position on the edge of the Crewe penalty area. Pook would have been disappointed not to have hit the target at the very least.
After 20 minutes, a skilful turn and shot from Danny Shelley forced Brown into another decent save. Shelley's effort nearly caught the Cheltenham keeper out but he did well to push the shot onto the top of his netting to concede a 7th corner of an entertaining opening.
A minute later, a clever knockdown from the towering Zola headed into the path of Miller, but again Brown was equal to it, blocking his low drive with his legs. It was encouraging stuff from the Railwaymen. Both Shelley and Miller also had efforts on goal that didn't trouble Brown on this occasion.
Although Crewe dominated the early exchanges, it was Cheltenham going close again with a shot from outside the box on 27 minutes. With Mat Mitchel-King going to ground too easily, the ball wasn't cleared effectively enough and Cheltenham's captain David Bird struck a shot that was superbly turned onto the post by a diving Legzdins.
A minute later, the Railwaymen finally found that breakthrough following a well worked free-kick from the impressive Bailey. His drilled ball into a crowded penalty area, broke free to Miller, who's hanging cross from the by-line was nodded home by Zola. It was arguably his easiest goal of his goals thus far this season.
After going a goal down, Cheltenham responded well and Crewe again needed a well placed Westwood to deflect another close range effort from Artus over our own cross bar. Pook continued to try his luck from long range but didn't force Legzdins into a save of any note. The lively Hammond also had a curling shot deflected behind for yet another corner. There had been ten within the opening 35 minutes!
Just two minutes later, Crewe doubled their advantage. Bailey was once again the provider of the delivery into a crowded penalty area via a free-kick, and after Mitchel-King had made a nuisance of himself up against Diallo, Schumacher dispatched the loose ball into the bottom corner of the Cheltenham net. It was a timely run from the Alex midfielder, who has been in good goalscoring form since being recalled to the starting line-up by new boss Dario Gradi. It was third of the season and the second goal had put Crewe in firm control here at Whaddon Road.
Crewe still had to protect their lead going into the interval and Westwood again did superbly in his defending to hack away a dangerous cross from the pacy Hammond.
The Alex needed a fine reflex save from Legzdins to preserve the 2-0 lead with the Alex keeper tipping over an effort by Artus in injury time. Crewe were finding it difficult to clear their lines properly and Legzdins showed real agility to tip it over for a corner.
Crewe could have sealed the points on the stroke of half-time with Zola again going close with a close range header from a wonderfully accurate cross from the outstanding Westwood. Brown did excellent again to keep the effort out and although Crewe had a 2-0 lead they left the pitch with their heads in their hands because it could have ended the game as a contest there and then.
Amazingly, Crewe actually kicked off the second half with only ten men out on the pitch! Even worse, the player still in the dressing room was goalkeeper Adam Legzdins! It was bizarre to say the least, especially as Crewe kicked off! We managed to get away with it.
The confident visitors were soon on the front foot again, with Miller forcing an early corner and then the lively striker firing over after some good approach play from Grant.
As they were chasing the game, Cheltenham made an early change with the veteran Barry Hayles replacing Pook as they elected to give Alsop more help upfront. That was soon followed up with David Hutton coming on for Artus just before the hour mark as Cheltenham tried to find a lifeline back into this game.
Hammond had a snapshot into the Crewe side netting after a knockdown from Alsop and they forced a few corners of their own, but didn't really force Legzdins into a save of any note.
Cheltenham were finding it increasingly difficult to contain the forward runs of Joel Grant and the winger was unlucky to see a clipped cross just evade Zola at the far post.
Cheltenham hit the woodwork for a third time on 68 minutes after a forceful run from Josh Low from his own half. His run found substitute Hutton and his cross was headed against the crossbar by the towering Alsop. The home side were certainly not getting a rub of the green but for once Crewe were getting a slice of luck in our defending.
Almost immediately, Crewe finished the game off with Academy graduate Danny Shelley finishing off a fine counter-attack to score his first of the season. Shelley kept his cool to trick his way past Low and lash his shot into the roof of the net. It was three points for the Railwaymen.
Just four minutes later, Shelley turned provider with his teasing cross being forced over the line by a grateful Zola. Miller only just missed the low ball across the 6-yard-box but the in-form Zola was there to help himself to his 12th of the season.
With the game won, Dario Gradi elected to make a change with Simon Walton replacing Schumacher.
With a hat-trick in his sights, Zola was unlucky to see a powerful shot blocked and Miller certainly deserved a goal for his efforts as he tried to reach the rebound. That was Zola's last contribution as Donaldson replaced him with just over 10 minutes left on the clock.
Crewe were enjoying themselves and on the look out for more goals. Grant lashed one just wide of Brown's right hand post and Brayford was left frustrated after not being awarded a penalty after collecting a pass from Shelley.
With the minutes ticking away, Byron Moore came on the hard working Miller. Donaldson wanted a goal himself but shot into the side-netting. Another of our subs Simon Walton drew a save from Brown after some good possession from Shelley and Donaldson.
Moore had the chance to make it 5-0 in stoppage time, after a super through ball from Shelley but once again he was denied by Brown, who saved well with his legs. Brown had kept the score down but Crewe deserved their impressive victory.
