An understrength & patched up Crewe Alex Under 18s lost out 3-0 at Bristol City in their latest Professional Development League 2 match.
With a busy build-up of first team & Under 23 matches, a large portion of Lee Bell's second year U18 side were called up for U23 action at Watford, leaving the manager a mixture of first year scholars, trialists & Under 16s - with just two players on the bench - for the trip to Bristol.
Despite an encouraging performance full of grit & determination, the Robins came out on top by an eventual three goal margin.
The first came in the opening half when Crewe were dispossed in their own defensive third, the City right winger getting down the right & crossing low for the striker to tap home from close range.
After the break, Bristol doubled their advantage. The left winger ran at his man & cut inside into the box before firing a right-footed finish across goalkeeper Sam Booth & into the far corner.
The hosts added gloss to the scoreline when the left winger grabbed his second, firing home first time after a cut-back from the by-line was only partially cleared.
Overall, a disappointing result but fairly positive performance from a patched up squad. On to the next as Bell & Jackson welcome Millwall to Reaseheath on Saturday!
Crewe: Booth, Wrench, Woodthorpe, Djallo, Southern, Goodrich, Allen (Green), Hartshorn, Onyeka, Robbins, Priestman