Matchday Guide | Colchester (H)

23 September 2023

Crewe Alexandra will aim to extend their 11-match unbeaten run at Mornflake Stadium when Colchester United on Saturday (3pm).

Lee Bell’s men are back on home turf after picking up four points in two games on the road but will face a sterm test against the visitors from Essex.

The Opposition

The U’s have had a slow start to the season, picking up seven points from their first seven games. Their one away victory stunned high-flying Gillingham and they have lost just one of their last four league games.

The Gaffer

Ben Garner was appointed in March after Matty Bloomfield departed for Wycombe.

Garner has previously taken charge of Swindon Town and Charlton Athletic - leading the former to the League Two Play-Offs in 2022 before suffering a semi-finals penalties defeat at the hands of Port Vale.

Fighting Talk

Lee Bell: "They are a good team with some good young players – me and their manager have more in common than any other managers. We know the stresses and positives of it. They are well organised and transition."

Ben Garner: "They have a talented squad; they are quite varied in the way they can play. It will be a good game for sure, we must prepare well and hope to have a positive performance like the last two league games."

Head-to-Head

Colchester United have won 30 of the 61 meetings between the teams. The Alex emerged victorious in 22 and the remaining nine were draws.

The last time these teams met at Mornflake Stadium a Dan Agyei strike earned a 1-0 win for The Railwaymen.

Elsewhere in League Two

Doncaster v Gillingham; Grimsby v Crawley; Harrogate Town v Salford; Mansfield v Barrow, Morecambe v Swindon; Newport v Bradford; Notts County v Forest Green; Stockport v Wrexham; Sutton v MK Dons; Tranmere v Accrington; Walsall v AFC Wimbledon.

Match Officials

The referee for Saturday’s clash is Charles Breakspear. The assistant referees are Marvyn Amphlett and Jack Clench. The fourth official will be Ravel Cheosiaua.

How To Find Us

For details of how to get to Mornflake Stadium via rail or road, click HERE.

Ticket Details

Click here to purchase your ticket.

Ticket Prices

2023/24 League Match Ticket Prices *(Member rate in brackets)*
	Boughey Stand	KPI Recruiting Stand	Andrew Connolly Financial Planning Stand
Adult	£27 (£23)	£25 (£21.50)	£25 (£21.50)
Senior (65+)	£21 (£18)	£19.50 (£16.50)	£19.50 (£16.50)
17-19 Years	£21 (£18)	£19.50 (£16.50)	£19.50 (£16.50)
Student**	(£13.50)	(£13.50)	(£13.50)
12-16 Years	£13 (£11)	£11 (£9.50)	£11 (£9.50)
11 and Under	£7.50 (£6)	£6.50 (£5.50)	£6.50 (£5.50)
Disabled	£21 (£18)	£19.50 (£16.50)	£19.50 (£16.50)
Family Ticket*	N/A	N/A	£25.00*

*Family Ticket is for 1 adult & 1 under-11 in the Family Stand.

** Student must be aged 21 or under and provide valid student ID.

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Match Reports

Match Report | Crewe 2 Colchester 1

23 September 2023

Long at the double in first half
Alex now 12 unbeaten at home
Bell’s men rise to sixth in the table

Christopher Long’s early brace proved enough for all three points when Colchester United visited Mornflake Stadium.

The forward tapped in on three minutes and converted a penalty on eight minutes to put Crewe in charge.

But the visitors pulled one back through Samson Tovide on 53 minutes and then pressed hard for a leveller.

The Alex came under a lot of pressure but stayed resolute – typified by captain Luke Offord’s 91^st minute goalline clearance.

And the victory has stretched The Railwaymen’s unbeaten home record to 12 games and lifted the side to sixth in League Two.

Boss Lee Bell made three changes to the side that started at Wimbledon last time out. Joe White was handed his first league start and there were recalls for Zac Williams and fit-again Shilow Tracey.

Connor O’Riordan and Conor Thomas missed out through injury, and Ryan Cooney dropped to the bench.

Colchester, who were without injured hitman John Akinde, found themselves two down within eight minutes.

First, Mickey Demetriou’s long throw dropped at the feet of Long after Baker-Richardson occupied several defenders at the near post, and the forward couldn’t miss.

Then Tracey raced onto a ball over the top and was tripped by Al-Amin Kazeen and Long made no mistake from the spot to take his tally to five for the season.

Joe Taylor fired over and Arthur Read had a strike stopped by keeper Harvey Davies as the visitors looked to hit back.

On 26 minutes superb skill from Jack Powell earned him space in the area to blast the ball across goal towards Baker-Richardson but the striker could not find the target from close in.

Just after the half-hour a clever White pass sent Baker-Richardson behind the United defence but his shot was gloved wide by keeper Owen Goodman.

Colchester twice went close to pulling a goal back before the break. The combination of Demetriou and Davies denied Joe Taylor just as he shaped to finish, and Noah Chilvers hit a post from just inside the area.

The visitors halved the deficit on 53 minutes when Taylor’s super cross was guided home first time by Tovide.

On 65 minutes better attacking play down the right from the Alex ended with a Rio Adebisi header which flew just off target.

Davies leapt to tip a Read effort over the bar and Taylor screwed wide from a great position as The U’s kept knocking on the door.

Colchester bossed the ball and had numerous efforts from range go close but the Alex stood firm.

Baker-Richardson almost made the game safe in the 85^th minute when he met a cross from the right on the half-volley but it fizzed just wide.

And in the 91^st minute a brilliant goalline clearance from Offord proved enough to preserve all three points for The Railwaymen.

Crewe (4-3-3): Davies; Williams, Offord, Demetriou, Adebisi; Powell (Lunt, 75), Tabiner, White (Holicek, 58); Tracey (Finney, 58), Long (Nevitt, 75), Baker-Richardson.

Subs not used: Booth, Nevitt, Cooney, Rowe.

Booked: Demetriou.

Colchester (3-5-2): Goodman; Egbo, Mitchell, Hall; Fevrier, McGeehan (Mingi, 74), Read, Chilvers, Kazeem (Ihionvien, 84); Tovide, Taylor.

Subs not used: Smith, Greenidge, Bandeira, Hopper, Thomas.

Booked: None.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Attendance: 4,070 (239).

Ticket News

Buy your family tickets for Colchester United

23 September 2023

The Alex welcome Colchester United to Mornflake Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Come down and show your support for the boys in the Andrew Connolly Financial Planning Stand.

Looking for something to do with the family? Why not join us for a fantastic day in CW2!

Family tickets include one adult and one under-11 and can be purchased here.

Full Ticket Prices

2023/24 League Match Ticket Prices *(Member rate in brackets)*
	Boughey Stand	KPI Recruiting Stand	Andrew Connolly Financial Planning Stand
Adult	£27 (£23)	£25 (£21.50)	£25 (£21.50)
Senior (65+)	£21 (£18)	£19.50 (£16.50)	£19.50 (£16.50)
17-19 Years	£21 (£18)	£19.50 (£16.50)	£19.50 (£16.50)
Student**	(£13.50)	(£13.50)	(£13.50)
12-16 Years	£13 (£11)	£11 (£9.50)	£11 (£9.50)
11 and Under	£7.50 (£6)	£6.50 (£5.50)	£6.50 (£5.50)
Disabled	£21 (£18)	£19.50 (£16.50)	£19.50 (£16.50)
Family Ticket*	N/A	N/A	£25.00*

*Family Ticket is for 1 adult & 1 under-11 in the Family Stand.

** Student must be aged 21 or under and provide valid student ID.

Click here for information on how to become a member & save money.

Purchase online safely & securely via www.eticketing.co.uk/crewealex

Call the ticket office on 01270 252610 on Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm.

Alternatively, drop in-store to purchase your tickets & beat the queues ahead of matchday.

If you have never been to Mornflake Stadium before, take a closer look at our First Time Fan Guide, which will provide you with everything you need to have a safe and enjoyable matchday experience.