The Chronicle
Crewe Alex’s homegrown 11 recorded the club’s third straight victory on the final day of the season at Gresty Road on Saturday.
Shaun Miller, the oldest academy graduate on show, got both goals as the side moved up to a 15th place finish in League Two and surpassed last term’s points total by one.
Though it was not a memorable game, it was a remarkable occasion for the club as they named a full side of their own players for the second time in their history.
They first did it in 2013, when they beat Walsall 2-1, and repeated the feat this time around.
It brought the curtain down on a difficult and challenging campaign in style.
When Crewe lost 1-0 at Cheltenham in December they sat 22nd in League Two and the club’s Football League status looked in real jeopardy.
But they have long since eased clear of danger and sealed it with nine points out of nine at the end.
Gloucestershire Live
Cheltenham Town were beaten at Crewe Alexandra on the last day of the season, leaving them 17th in the final League Two standings.
Shaun Miller put the home side, who fielded an XI made up of academy products, in front in the 17th minute.
Teenager George Lloyd levelled for Cheltenham in the 34th minute with his second goal in three League Two starts, but a second from Miller in the 62nd minute sealed the points for David Artell's side.
Cheltenham Town Official Website
George Lloyd’s second Football League goal of the season wasn’t enough for Cheltenham Town as a brace from Shaun Miller gave Crewe Alexandra all three points in the final game of the 2017/18 Sky Bet League Two season.
David Artell’s side opened the scoring after 17 minutes when Miller ran through following a long ball and finished coolly underneath the advancing Rhys Lovett.
The Robins equalised in the 34th minute though, as Mo Eisa crossed to the far post for Lloyd to net his 42nd goal in all competitions, bundling into the net despite pressure from his marker.
The Railwaymen were back in front just after the hour mark though, as Miller curled in his second from just inside the penalty box after another defensive mix-up.
Joe Morrell had two late efforts for Cheltenham, but the hosts held firm to ensure that Gary Johnson’s side finished the season in 17th place.