Alex through in Cheshire Senior Cup after second half goals from Turton and Saunders

Second half goals from Ollie Turton and Callum Saunders saw Crewe Alexandra progress to the second round of the Cheshire Senior Cup against a spirited and organised Witton Albion side. Neil Baker’s Crewe side had to wait patiently to finally break down Witton's stiff resistance with midfielder Turton side footing home a Billy Waters cross on 76 minutes. Saunders looked to have sealed the tie six minutes later when he guided home a finish past Callum Spencer after being found superbly by substitute Joe Howell, but Witton hit back to make it an interesting last ten minutes.

Anxiety crept back into our play two minutes after Saunders' goal after a stray header from substitute Joe Kearns allowed our former player Michael Koral to flick the ball over James Baillie and fire past Scott Shearer with his left foot.

minute but he pulled his shot just inches wide of the far post. ^thSaunders could have added a third goal for Crewe in 89

Defender Harry Davis played 70 minutes before he was replaced Kearns and there were also run-outs for Brad Inman, Billy Waters, Jon Guthrie and John winger Johnson.

Inman showed flashes of his ability and was involved in the creation of Turton’s opening goal when he intelligently slipped Waters in behind Anthony Gardener to allow him to pull the back for the well placed Turton to stoke home.

Inman had an early shot deflected over for a corner and Waters forced Spencer into the first meaningful save of the game after 12 minutes with a powerful shot. The Witton goalkeeper managed to get a strong hand to the shot and in the follow up, Saunders headed a Johnson cross just wide of the target.

Waters also shot a yard wide after Saunders had touched the ball off to him. That is not to say that Tony Sullivan’s side didn’t have moments of their own. The lively David Andrews had a first half effort deflected into the gloves of Shearer and the winger had their best chance in the second half too forcing the Crewe goalkeeper into a fantastic double save just 60 seconds before Turton broke the deadlock with his tidy finish.

 Saunders could have slipped Crewe into the lead before that golden opportunity for the visitors but Spencer stood up well to save his low effort with his outstretched foot.

Crewe: Shearer, Baillie, Guthrie, Davis (Kearns), Ng, Mullarkey (Howell), Johnson, Turton, Saunders, Waters, Inman