Alex start pre-season campaign with 3-1 win against the Bears.
Crewe Alexandra began their pre-season programme with a 3-1 win away at Congleton Town this evening. The Finnish striker Lauri Dalla Valle gave the Railwaymen a first half lead after converting an Ollie Turton pull-back just before the half an hour mark.
minute, the Railwaymen needed two late goals from trialist Soulyemane Coulibaly and Callum Saunders to secure the victory.thAfter Chris Smith had levelled in the 66
For the first pre-season encounter, Crewe controlled much of the possession with new midfield signings Billy Bingham and Adam King eager to get on the ball. They showed early good signs of linking up in the middle of the pitch. Ryan Colclough also started for Crewe Alexandra in a front three alongside Dalla Valle and George Cooper. Colclough had an early effort that cleared the Congleton crossbar before James Jones, at full stretch, just failed to reach a far post cross from wide man Colclough.
Congleton’s Brian Matthews curled an early effort wide and the same player also attempted an ambitious effort from 25 yards after the ball got suck under the boot of Jones.
Colclough curled a shot into the gloves of Andrew Farrimond before Dalla Valle broke the deadlock on the half an hour mark with a tidy finish.
Turton, captaining the Alex in the absence of Harry Davis, did superbly to reach the by-line and after Cooper applied a decisive touch, Dalla Valle adjusted his body splendidly to back heal a low shot past Farrimond.
Cooper saw a deflected effort spin out for a corner before Jones forced the Congleton goalkeeper into a smart save with a powerful drive from 20 yards out.
Steve Davis introduced ten new outfield players to feature in the second period and Brad Inman showed early signs of his pace with a forceful run down the left wing. His cross found Saunders at the far post but he could only direct his overhead kick into the mid-drift of the Congleton keeper.
linked up well with the lively Couliably, who was determined to impress in his trial game. He had a close range effort saved after good work from Inman before the home drew level on 66 minutes. Smith was left unmarked no more from six yards out and his downward header gave the trailist goalkeeper in the Crewe goal no chance. Inman was a threat with his pace and
Saunders headed over the top of the bar before having a close range tap-in ruled out for offside.
Crewe continued to press looking to find more goals and they duly came in the final five minutes. Couliably did his chances of impressing on trial no harm at all when he spun 25 yards from goal before dispatching a powerful shot into the bottom corner. It was a fantastic finish from the Ivory Coast youth International and his acrobatic celebration wasn’t too bad either!
The young Welshman took a quick throw in confidently in his stride before firing low into the bottom corner.
Saunders rounded off the scoring with a fine finish in the 89th minute.
Crewe Alexandra (first half) Trialist, Turton, Trialist, Ray, Guthrie, Bingham, King, Jones, Dalla Valle, Colclough, Cooper.
Crewe Alexandra (second half) Trialist, Baillie, Kearns, Mullarkey, Trialist, Howell, Wintle, Saunders, Trialist, Inman, Atkinson.