Stanley hit back to inflict defeat on the road

Accrington Stanley 3-2 Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra: Garratt, Turton, Ray, Nugent, Bakayogo, Jones (Saunders 87), Bingham, Cooke, Cooper, Bowery (Wintle 80), Dagnall

Subs Not Used: Dawber, Saunders, Kirk,  Kiwomya, Ng, Ainley

Accrington Stanley: Rodak, Pearson, Hughes, Beckles, Clark, McCartan, McConville, Husin (Donacien 46), Conneely, Kee, Rodgers

Subs Not Used: Gornell, Boco, Hewitt, Shaw, Edwards, Chapman

Attendance: 1720  (383 Crewe fans)

Goals: Crewe -  Cooke (15) Dagnall (41)

Accrington – Hughes (57, 79) McCartan (61)

A comeback performance from Accrington Stanley saw them fight back from 2-0 down to inflict a 3-2 defeat on Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.

Two superb first-half goals from Callum Cooke and Chris Dagnall had put the Railwaymen in control but a brace Mark Hughes and a Shay McCartan free-kick turned the game on its head and saw the Alex leave the Wham Stadium empty handed.

Boss Dave Artell named an unchanged team for the fifth successive game, but there were returns for Callum Saunders and Charlie Kirk on the bench.

It was a fairly quiet start to the game at the Wham Stadium but Dagnall did have a chance to give Crewe the lead on ten minutes as he latched on to a poor header back to the goalkeeper but he couldn’t beat Marek Rodak in the home goal.

Moments later George Ray went into the book for a block on Shay McCartan who was breaking clear. The resulting free-kick was headed wide of Ben Garratt’s goal.

On 15 minutes the visitors took the lead. James Jones found Cooke who turned his man before firing home a powerful shot from distance in to the bottom left corner of the goal.

It was deserved for Crewe who applying plenty of pressure on Stanley and soon after Cooper tested Rodak again but this time the home keeper was able to make save.

Cooper was right in the mix for Crewe and he tried a spectacular volley as the visitors looked to double their lead which went over the bar.

Defensively Dave Artell’s side were looking strong but Ray did have to make a great block as Stanley looked to reply before Garratt had to punch clear as the ball bounced around in the Alex box.

But it was Crewe who were well on top and on 41 minutes they got their second goal. Cooper and Dagnall exchanged passes to set the Alex forward racing clear and Dagnall made no mistake as he dinked the ball over the goalkeeper to put the Alex 2-0 ahead.

McCartan curled an effort wide of the Crewe goal in the last real action of the first-half but it was Artell’s men who would have certainly entered the break the happier of the two sides.

Crewe started the second-half in equally bright fashion as Jones tested Rodak in the home goal from distance.

The home side were playing at a higher tempo though and Garratt had to make a stunning save to deny a long range effort from McCartan.

But from the resulting corner the home side got a lifeline as the ball found its way to Omar Beckles who found Hughes who prodded home from close range.

Moments later the home side were level and it was McCartan who got it with a stunning free-kick that left Garratt with no chance.

Stanley now had their tails up and Billy Kee flicked an effort wide of the Crewe goal as they pressed for a third.

After a hectic few minutes Crewe looked to regain their composure over the next ten minutes but on 75 minutes the dangerous McCartan found Kee with a dangerous flick and Garratt had to make a great save to keep the scores level.

Moments later McCartan forced Garratt in to another fine stop after a solo run but from the resulting corner, Hughes once again found himself in space to complete the turn around.

Boss Dave Artell quickly introduced Ryan Wintle for Jordan Bowery as the Railwaymen looked for a reply, but it was Zoumana Bakayogo who came close as he eventually shot after a goal mouth scramble.

Callum Saunders was then introduced for the Alex and he thought he had snatched a late leveler only to see the flag go up after he turned home Dagnall’s shot.

That was the last real action of the game as the Alex suffered a defeat on the road in Lancashire.