Crewe: Booth, Allan (Adebisi, 45), Woodthorpe (Linton, 45), Hartshorn, Fenton (c), Goodrich, Robbins, Odipe, Onyeka (Priestman, 75), Djalo, Lokko
Goals: Onyeka (43), Lokko (55)
Crewe Alexandra Under 18s didn't get 2019 off to the best of starts with a 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Professional Development League 2.
Tyreece Onyeka & Danny Lokko twice drew the Alex level at Reaseheath but it was Forest who scored again to seal the winner & take home all three points.
Forest opened the scoring after Crewe lost possession in the middle of the park. Two passes later & the ball found it's way to the striker on the edge of the box on the right. He chopped back onto his left-foot & smashed a low shot into the near-side corner.
Onyeka responded for the Alex just two minutes before the break. Goalkeeper Sam Booth bowled out from the back a ball to Abdul Djalo who ran through the centre of the pitch with purpose. He slipped in a through ball for Onyeka to take a touch & then fire left-footed high into the roof of the net.
Forest retook the lead early in the second period in a moment that Booth will want to forget. A routine cross looked have found its way comfortably into the goalkeeper's midriff, but he spilled the ball for the lurking striker to convert from six-yards.
Nevertheless, Crewe came back again & equalised for 2-2 through Lokko in the 55th minute. Joe Robbins' free-kick was swung into the box & Forest couldn't sufficiently clear their lines as Ola Odipe dinked the ball back over for Lokko to expertly volley into the corner from eight-yards out.
But the visitors had the final say to take all the points, working the ball from right to left for the winger to shoot. Booth saved the shot, but the Alex defence made a hash of clearing the loose ball & allowed the player to run in & prod home.