Crewe enjoy run-out at the Weaver Stadium.
Nantwich Town 0-4 Crewe
Garratt (Richards, 45), Turton (Trialist, 72), Bakayogo (Trialist, 65), Davis (Ng, 65), Guthrie, Smith (Jones, 45), Bingham (Finney, 65), Ainley (Kirk, 45), Cooper (Trialist, 65), Saunders (Udoh, 45), Dagnall (Wintle, 72)Crewe:
Crewe Alexandra scored four goals at neighbours Nantwich for the third successive year this evening as another useful run-out at the Weaver Stadium saw summer signing Chris Dagnall on target from the penalty spot in the first half.
Crewe led at the break after Callum Saunders was brought down from behind by Ben Harrison after just 17 minutes after Dagnall had chased the Dabbers goalkeeper Dave Parton down. Dagnall stepped up to slot the resultant spot kick away with great confidence.
A fairly competitive first half could have seen Crewe score more than the one goal we managed with winger George Cooper having a poked effort cleared off the line early on. Cooper was lively throughout and deserved his goal in the second half when being played clean through by James Jones. The winger kept his composure to round Dave Parton and guide his shot home into the unguarded net.
the by-line. The goalkeeper seemed to have the danger in hand but reacted too quickly after the ball drifted into his goal via the post. It was a bizarre second goal to concede for the Dabbers. A mistake from the Nantwich goalkeeper had gifted Crewe a second goal on 53 minutes when he made a mess of Curtis Jones’ routine back pass from
Cooper made it 3-0 on 64 minutes following Jones’ excellent through ball and the result was completed when Ryan Wintle converted at the far post following a superb cross from Charlie Kirk with four minutes left on the clock.
Crewe could have added to their goal tally with Cooper having a dubious goal ruled out for offside and Kirk went close with a long-range effort.
The Alex back four and goalkeepers Garratt and Richards were hardly tested but Nanwich winger Josh Gordon did have the ball in the net with a far post header only to see the assistant raise his flag.