Crewe remain unbeaten after latest pre-season friendly test
Crewe Alexandra take their pre-season goalscoring total to 15 after Offrande Zanzala notches his first hat-trick for the Club with academy youngster Joe Robbins completing the victory.
It took until the 20th minute for The Railwaymen to punish the young Stanley side, following a terrific run in behind the defence, and a well timed through ball from Regan Griffiths, Zanzala calmly slotted home.
The summer signing who caused his former side problems all afternoon found himself in the right place, at the right time to grab his second of the game from inside the six yard area with 12 minutes of the first half left to play.
Immediately after the restart, our latest academy graduate, Robbins found himself with room to test the Accrington goalkeeper and his effort paid off.
But The Alex weren't finished just yet. With an hour gone on the clock, Zanzala found himself one against one with a Stanley defender, where he was eventually chopped down and the referee awarded a penalty to Crewe.
On a hat-trick, Zanzala clinged onto the ball before placing it on the penalty spot. His impressive penalty record continued after waiting for the Stanley keeper to make his move, as he placed it into the opposite corner.
Crewe couldnt hold on for that second clean sheet of pre-season, as Accrington's forward rose highest from a corner to head past David Richards.
With just 13 minutes left to play, Crewe found themselves in trouble again, failing to deal with a cross into the box, which was again headed home.
Owen Dale did however will unfortunate to not have gotten on the scoresheet as his acrobatic effort crashed against the post and his late effort was equally well saved by the Stanley substitute.
It was another 60 minutes in the tank for Tom Lowery, who continues his rehabilitation from a hernia operation over the summer and left-back Rio Adebisi added another 75 minutes to his total as he looks to regain match sharpness again ahead of the new season.
Crewe: Richards, Johnson, Lancashire, Offord, Adebisi (Woodthorpe 75'), Griffiths, Robbins, Lowery (Lundstram 63'), Onyeka, Dale & Zanzala