Joint Academy Director on Cup win.

Neil Critchley, the joint Crewe Alexandra Academy Director, has praised the way the Railwaymen overcame Carlisle United in the First Round of the F.A. Youth Cup last night. The Alex needed extra-time to see off the impressive Cumbrians, but eventually secured a 2-1 at Gresty Road.

Second year-scholar Billy Waters netted the winning goal for the Railwaymen, after Brandon Moores had earlier brought the Alex level in the game and sent the match in to extra-time after good linkup play with Liam Wilson.

Critch was left pleased with the spirit of the boys on what is always a tough night for the Alex youngsters. Speaking after the game, he told Crewe Alex Player: ““We got there in the end. I was delighted with the performance because we played good football throughout the game and played with real intensity. The Youth Cup nights are difficult because you don’t know what you are going to get from the boys, but I was impressed with them.

“A lot of our boys have never played on our pitch here at Gresty Road before and that it isn’t easy. But right from the start the boys played with real courage and didn’t shy away from anything.

“But credit must go to Carlisle because they came here with a game plan and made it difficult for us. They went a goal a up but thankfully we got back in to the game thanks to a terrific team move involving Liam Wilson and Brandon Moores.

“We needed it at that time and the boys have played a lovely give and go in their own half to slide Brandon in who has put it right in to the bottom corner with his weaker foot.

“Then in extra time Billy, who I thought was terrific throughout the game, has also scored a special goal from outside the box with his weaker foot. In the end it took a special goal to beat their keeper because he was excellent.

“We needed to dig in and defend though, and our keeper Robbie Johnson has had to make a really good save at the death to win the game for us.

"It is a really good learning curve for us. I thought we played some really good football and I think anybody that came to the game would have enjoyed a real good game of football.”