Wintle scores but The Owls hold out
Crewe Alexandra Under 21’s were unlucky to make it six league games without a win as Sheffield Wednesday ran out narrow 2-1 winners at Hillsborough.
Coach Alex Morris was forced to field a mix-and-match side depleted by injuries and international call-ups.
Without a recognised striker, Callum Ainley led the line with the support of George Cooper and Joe Howell from the flanks.
Crewe started the better side and controlled the play, and should’ve gone ahead when early sub Charlie Kirk broke away, but he missed the target.
That missed opportunity proved costly as Crewe went behind against the run of play, Ryan Meadows powering in a Jack Stobbs corner.
Some comical Alex defending just after the break allowed Tom Elliott to put Wednesday 2-0 ahead, but Crewe rallied and Ryan Wintle struck a wonderful effort in off the post with six minutes to go to set-up a tense finale.
Crewe continued to push and hit the cross-bar in the dying moments, but the equaliser never materialised and in the end it was an unfortunate defeat.
Crewe: Harrison, Trialist, Baillie, Wintle, Ng, Kearns, Finney, Atkinson, Ainley, Cooper, Howell