Crewe demolished visitors Tranmere Rovers with a 5 star showing this Sunday, underlining their dark horse status in the FA Women's Premier League this season.
A last minute venue change due to the cancellation of an athletics meeting, meant that the ladies could finally get to play on the pristine infield pitch at the Cumberland Sports Arena. This no doubt proved to be a psychological boost for the home team as they are now playing at the same venue that where they train.
An early goal from Tranmere's Lindsey Smith sparked Crewe Alexandra into life with top scorer Tracy Sloane providing an instant response. The resulting restart was laid back to Gemma Edwards, whose raking diagonal ball was latched onto by flying winger Levi Penny. The Sneyd Green starlet left the full back for dead and produced the perfect cross that was expertly dispatched by top scorer Tracy Sloane with a sweet volley.
Although playing much of their football in their own half due to playing into a stiff breeze, the pace of Penny and Price on each wing was a constant threat, winning numerous corners with their direct play. It was from one of these corners that Beth Ragdale produced one of her trademark goals with a spectacular flying header at the back post, giving Crewe a well deserved half time lead.
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Levi Penny - Constant threat
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Jo Gurney came up with the goods to put Crewe further ahead 10 minutes after the break, driving on from midfield and rifling the ball home from 20 yards out. Crewe were now rampant, the new surface really suiting Crewe's slick style of play. Tranmere were having difficulty containing the movement of the home team and Caroline Price was next on the score sheet, scoring direct from an in-swinging corner that keeper Laura Barnes-Ellis could do little about under huge pressure from Poole, Ragdale and Key.
Leading 4-1 Crewe were then guilty of becoming complacent with too many players bombing forward in search of more goals. Tranmere produced 2 goals on the break within 5 minutes from Rachel Ryley and Katie Bagley to give them fresh hope but this hope was dashed by a piece of quality finishing from Levi Penny. Edwards was first to the breakdown on the edge of the penalty area and fed the ball to Penny, who after turning her player on the left side of the penalty area came up with a sublime piece of skill, curling a delightful shot into the top right hand corner.
Meanwhile, the reserves produced a much improved performance coming away with a very credible 1-1 draw away against Manchester City. Crewe could regard themselves as extremely unfortunate not to record their first win of the season with the home team inflicting the agony with an 88th minute equaliser that cancelled out Gemma Don Carolis' first half effort.
Crewe travel to Sutton Coldfield next weekend where they will vie for the top spot against Aston Villa, whilst the reserves will entertain Preston North End at the Cumberland Arena.
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