Vaughany - Gave the Alex the lead from the spot

Penalties either side of half time were the story of this game as the Alex were held to a 1-1 draw by a well organised Accrington Stanley at the Interlink Express Stadium last night.

In a full blooded friendly encounter the Alex led just before half time when David Vaughan thumped home a penalty after Kenny Lunt had been felled in the Stanley penalty area, but the Railwaymen couldn't build on their lead as the Nationwide Conference outfit levelled within minutes of the restart as former Bury forward Lutel James fired home his spot kick after a handball by Richard Walker.

Dario Gradi welcomed Stephen Foster back into the heart of his defence alongside Walker whilst youngsters Billy Jones and Mark Roberts once again filled the full back roles.

Lee Bell had another chance to impress in central midfield with Lunt and Vaughan, who once again was used in a more central role after impressing last week against Everton.

Clayton Ince replaced the injured Ben Williams in goal whilst the front three saw Steve Jones, Michael Higdon and Mark Rivers attacking the Accrington defence.

The home side included experienced professionals such as Ged Brannan, Mark Ovendale and Steven Halford whilst former Rochdale and Northern Ireland striker Lee McEvilly played up front.

And it was Stanley who created the first opportunity of the game as Steven Howson's cross field pass from left saw Lutel James get inside Roberts, only for his shot to be deflected wide of the upright.

The best chance of the opening stages fell to the Alex though as Rivers made a telling contribution inside the first ten minutes. The former Norwich man picked the ball up in space 25 yards and slipped a perfect pass through the Accrington defence to set Lunt through on goal. The Alex skipper took his time and tried to place the ball past Ovendale, but the experienced keeper made a fine block. When the ball broke back to Lunt though the chance to score was still on and when he picked out Higdon 5 yards out his shot was superbly blocked on the line by Halford to save a certain goal.

Accrington responded when Paul Mullin beat Ince to McEvilly's low cross as scooped a shot just wide of goal but minutes later the Alex were on the attack through Rivers.

His pass to Jones saw the former Leigh RMI man beat a man before setting up Higdon, but again the Liverpudlian's effort was blocked by a defender.

Midway through the half Ince made a stunning reflex save to deny Ian Craney's shot on the turn as he brilliantly tipped the powerful effort onto the post and behind, although the referee surprisingly gave a goal kick!

Accrington were begin to string some good moves together to threatened the Alex defence and although the Alex came close when Roberts ball down the line was pulled back by Higdon for Lunt to fire over, Stanley came close to opening the scoring soon after. McEvilly whipped in a dangerous cross from the right for Mullin to volley, but again Ince made a solid stop for the Railwaymen.

It was the Alex though who took the lead just before half time when Vaughan struck from the penalty spot. Again Roberts' was impressive in as an attacking force as he lobbed a pass to the left of the penalty area for Lunt. Ovendale came off his line looking to reach the ball ahead of the Alex captain but instead only succeeded in hauling him down, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Vaughan stepped up to take the kick and confidently struck the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

With the Alex winning a penalty at the end of the first half things reversed after the break when Accrington were handed a spot kick in the opening minutes of the second period.

James was causing problems on the left of the penalty area and when he tried to lob a cross into the box the ball struck the arm of Walker and the referee again had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. James himself took the kick and despatched it in almost the exact spot that Vaughan had earlier, to give Ince no chance, and tie the game at 1-1.

Five minutes later an audacious effort from Craney almost gave Accrington the lead. The former Altrincham man spotted Ince marginally off his line and tried his luck from 35 yards, but the big Trinidadian recovered his ground quickly and stretched to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Dario decided to make four substitutions in the 62nd minute as Andy White, Paul Bignot, Neil Sorvel and James Robinson replaced Vaughan, Lunt, Walker and Higdon with Sorvel, returning from injury, relieving Lunt of the captain's duties.

The Alex survived another penalty appeal a few minutes later when Robinson was challenging James, but this time the referee waved away Stanley's appeals. By now though Accrington really had the bit between their teeth and enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure. Peter Cavanagh fired over a free kick after a handball by Foster and then substitute Baboucar Nujie fired narrowly over Ince's goal after another good move down the left from the hosts.

Crewe still had their chances though and Bell tested Ovendale in the 82nd minute with a low shot following White's pass.

Bell then turned provider with a threaded pass through the defence to Rivers, but again Ovendale made a brave block to deny the former Norwich man a goal. Both sides continued to look for a winner in the dying stages, but neither could find a way past the respective goalkeepers, and a draw was probably the fair result on the night in what was a good work out for the Alex.

Accrington Stanley: Mark Ovendale, Peter Cavanagh, Stewart Howson, Robert Williams, Steven Halford, Ged Brannan, Steven Flitcroft, Ian Craney, Lutel James, Paul Mullin, Lee McEvilly.

Subs: John Smith, Damien Hindle, Kenny Irons, James Lock, Paul Howarth, Paul Carvill, Danny Alcock, Kieran Westwood, Badoucar Anie.

Crewe Alex: Clayton Ince, Billy Jones, Mark Roberts, Kenny Lunt, Richard Walker, Stephen Foster, Mark Rivers, Lee Bell, Steve Jones, Michael Higdon, David Vaughan.

Subs: Andy White, Stuart Tomlinson, Paul Bignot, Matthew Platt, Neil Sorvel, James Robinson.