Alex Morris' Under 23 side were once again left frustrated on home soil as a largely dominant performance yielded just one point instead of three.
Following on from the opening day 1-1 draw with Charlton at the Alexandra Stadium, The Alex were once again held by the same scoreline in the Bank Holiday Monday clash with Ipswich Town.
After missing out on the first team trip to Carlisle on Saturday, Club Captain George Ray was fit enough to take his place in the Under 23 side to face the Tractor Boys at the Alexandra Stadium.
It may have been an early kick-off on a Bank Holiday morning, but you wouldn't have known it - such was the Alex's fast-paced, dynamic start to the contest.
Crewe went close to opening the scoring four times inside the first 11 minutes, penning Ipswich inside their defensive third for most of the first half.
Lewis Reilly had the first two attempts with one save & one flying not far wide, with Regan Griffiths & Oli Finney also going close.
It was an eye-catching performance by Finney, who was deployed on the right-flank, & drove in a 33rd minute free-kick which Brad Walker connected with a header that was saved by goalkeeper Harry Wright.
The deserved goal did finally arrive four minutes shy of the break. The idustrious Finney won possession high up the pitch & drove into the box, twisting & turning two Ipswich defenders before rifling his shot high into the net at the near post.
With their first meaningful attempt on goal, the visitors almost levelled with the final kick of the opening period. Andre Dozzell curled a 19-yard free-kick over the wall but could only watch as it struck the post.
By contrast, the second half was a much duller affair, with Ipswich seeing a lot more of the ball & providing a more pertinent goal threat.
Dave Richards was called into action for the first time on 56 minutes, flying through the air to tip away the lively Danny Rowe's curling shot.
Walker had to be at his best to produce a goal-line clearance for Crewe in the 75th minute after Richards saved Dozzell's shot, but the ball spun in the air & was heading for goal.
Crewe had several half-chances & openings to kill the game off, but were made to pay for not adding to the lead.
Five minutes from time the suckerpunch arrived when Emyr Huws arrived late into the box to glance Dozzell's header into the bottom corner as the Tractor Boys stole a share of the points.
Next up for Crewe Alex U23's is a trip to Watford this coming Friday with a 3pm kick-off.
Crewe: Richards, Johnson, Walker, Ray, Offord, Lundstram, Lowery, Lynch, Finney, Griffiths, Reilly
Click here to view all of the Under 23 fixtures & results.
