It really did look like being one of those days at Plainmoor when Shaun Miller blasted a 78th minute penalty high over Scott Bevan's crossbar. At that stage of the game, Crewe were trailing to Scott Rendell's first half goal and struggling to create real clear-cut chances.
Despite his woeful spot kick, Miller didn't let the miss greatly affect him because just six minutes later he embarked on a wonderful run to create an opening for his strike partner Clayton Donaldson. After taking Miller's clever back heal in his stride, Donaldson calmly slotted past Bevan for his 10th of the campaign.
Dario Gradi was forced into two changes for the trip to the Plainmoor Stadium. Ashley Westwood has been suffering with an ear infection over the last few days and was not well enough to travel south which meant a recall for Steven Schumacher. Schumacher, who only recently overcame a sore back made his return in the 4-2 win over Grimsby on Tuesday evening as a late substitute for Joel Grant.
The other change saw new loan signing Chris Stokes come in at left-back after he completed his one-month switch from Bolton Wanderers yesterday. Stokes came in for his Football League debut for youngster Matt Tootle, who had been forced off before half time on Tuesday night due to a dead leg. Tootle passed a fitness test yesterday and was fit enough to take his place on the subs bench.
Leading scorer Calvin Zola also returned to the substitutes' bench after shaking off an ankle injury. Zola had missed the last six games after initially suffering a hamstring strain in the early minutes away at Rochdale. Zola returned to the squad for the now suspended Carl Martin following his red card on Tuesday night.
Crewe made a bright start in surprisingly bright sunshine here at Plainmoor with some neat one-touch passing and a couple of early free-kicks. Bryon Moore also forced an early corner but that was cleared by Wayne Carlisle ahead of Joel Grant at the far post.
Torquay soon got into their stride and after some forceful play from Chris Zebroski on the edge of the Crewe penalty area, Lee Mansell had an early shot blocked by Danny O'Donnell. On 8 minutes, Scott Rendell shot wastefully wide from distance after he had pounced on a slight slip up from Mat Mitchel-King.
Crewe's main threat in the early exchanges was certainly Moore. He had burst past full-back Lathaniel Rowe twice and twice he had been caught by the Torquay defender.The second challenge finished his afternoon prematurely on 12 minutes and Moore was unable to put any pressure on his ankle. Calvin Zola replaced the unfortunate Moore with Miller moving out wide to the left and Grant in behind a now front three.
After losing Moore and a tactical reshape, Torquay forced the real chance of the afternoon from a corner. It was swung in by captain Nicky Wroe and centre back Mark Ellis got his head to it at the far post, only to see it cleared from the line by Schumacher.
On 20 minutes, a misplaced pass from Schumacher gave full-back Carlisle time and space to carry the ball forward but his shot from 20 yards drifted away at the death and didn't force Steve Phillips into his first meaningful save.
Torquay continued to give free-kicks away and Schumacher so nearly made them pay with a wonderfully struck effort that went just wide of Scott Bevan's left hand post.
Crewe readjusted their formation again with Donaldson moving out to the right hand side and Grant returning to his more familiar left hand side. It suited Miller move as he moved centrally again.
Ironically, Miller then enjoyed his first effort on goal after 25 minutes following a forceful run from John Brayford. The Alex right back did wonderfully well to pull the ball back for Miller, but the striker could only side foot his effort straight at Bevan.
Just before the half an hour mark, Mat Mitchel-King suffered a nasty fall on his neck after going over the top of Rendell close to the centre circle. Thankfully, the centre half recovered sufficiently to rejoin the action.
Torquay's Elliott Benyon then had a sight of Steve Phillip's goal but James Bailey was well positioned to stick his leg out and block his close range shot. It was a fine interception by the Alex midfielder.
Crewe were on the back foot and after letting the ball bounce inside the penalty area, O'Donnell was put under pressure by Benyon with the Torquay man then going down after a short tussle for possession. It would have been a harsh if the referee had awarded a penalty for that.
On 34 minutes, Wroe then dragged a shot wide of the mark after more good approach play from the lively Benyon.Crewe were again making things difficult for themselves by surrendering possession too easily.
Wayward passing would cost us dearly on 37 minutes with Donaldson giving the ball away cheaply to Rowe-Turner who in turn found the pacy Lebrowski in an advanced position. He attacked Brayford and his low cross was turned home by Rendell before the recovering Bailey could apply a block.
Crewe didn't really create any more chances of merit in the first half and we certainly had to improve the accuracy of our passing in the second period if we were going to make our attack minded players count. The last half chance of the half saw Stokes drill a late shot wide of the mark after a Grant cross was cleared out of the Torquay penalty area.
Finally, the referee showed a yellow card to a Torquay player just minutes into the second half for Lebroski's lunging trip on Donaldson as he tried to accelerate into the Torquay half of the field.
On 54 minutes, O'Donnell needed his central defensive partner Mat Mitchel-King to help him out after he had let the ball bounce in favour of the lively Benyon. Mitchel-King read it wisely to intercept and clear after Benyon had stole a yard on O'Donnell.
Torquay continued to press forward looking to find a killer second goal but neither Wroe nor Lezbroski could keep their shots down to test Phillips. Carlisle was then booked for a late challenge on Schumacher just after the hour mark.
With Crewe not offering too much as an attacking force, Dario elected to change things with Luke Murphy replacing his first sub Zola. Donaldson moved back into a central role alongside Miller. On his return, Zola had managed 43 minutes.
Substitute Murphy was soon in the action and terrific long pass from within his own half sent the ball over the top of Ellis and into the path of Donaldson. The Alex striker managed to reach it first ahead of Bevan but was forced wide and couldn't turn it on goal. It prompted some good pressure from the Alex who had began to enjoy possession in and around the Torquay box.
Schumacher had a good chance blocked and then more great work from Murphy provided Miller with another chance only for him to be denied by a splendid one-handed saved from Bevan. Grant couldn't win the foot race to the rebound.
At the other end though, Benyon was still troubling O'Donnell and Mat Mitchel-King by getting in behind them with some clever runs. Zebroskidrilled a shot into the side netting off of the boot of Stokes and then Robertson forced Phillips into a fine save with a forceful header from the resultant corner. At 1-0 it was still evenly poised at Plainmoor but Crewe still needed to create better chances.
They did just that on 78 minutes with Grant producing a moment of magic to produce a pass of real quality to set Miller through.Some neat footwork from Miller forced Ellis into a clumsy trip to give Crewe a life saving penalty. Miller took the responsibility ahead of perhaps Schumacher who had missed one earlier in the season at Notts County. Miller whacked it high over the bar and the chance was gone. The Alex players couldn't quite believe it.
Instantly Schumacher was replaced for Simon Walton. Crewe were also thankful to see the back of Benyon who was replaced for Mustapha Carayol.
Crewe were pressing though and Torquay's keeper Bevan did brilliantly to smother a chance from Donaldson after a great little ball from Miller. Donaldson got there first but Bevan spread himself to make the save.
He was defenceless though on 84 minutes when Donaldson slipped home his 10th of the season. Miller certainly redeemed himself with a wonderful run across the Torquay penalty box before producing a clever back heal to his strike partner. It was a wonderfully worked goal and Donaldson scored his second goal in a week.
With the minutes ticking away, Crewe looked the more likely side to win it too. Grant was excellent in the closing stages, back to his dribbling best and causing havoc. Influential substitute Murphy was then unlucky to see his shot drift just wide after he had cut in from his wing position.
Crewe couldn't find that one last chance and if they had it would probably have been unfair on Torquay, who had certainly enjoyed their fair share of possession in a fairly even game.
