Fundraiser run-out sees Crewe score six goals at Kidsgrove.
Crewe Alexandra Women opened up their pre season programme with a trip to Kidsgrove Athletic. The afternoon was a pre planned charity event raising cash for defibrillators in the local area. In extreme heat, the Alex Women put in a performance that would surely please gaffer Matt Fisher.
The Autonet Stadium saw a bumper crowd and all were treated to sunshine, superb hospitality and plenty of goals. Matt Fisher named 2 trialists in the starting eleven as well as another two on the bench and youth keeper Tia Lockett.
Crewe started brightly and opened up the scoring in the first minute thanks to Emilia Edwards. The youngster carried on from where she left off at the end of last season and stabbed home a low ferocious Beth Grice cross. Crewe quickly doubled their lead with a well worked goal. The Alex played out from the back and Laura Garner split the hosts defence with a low diagonal pass which found Edwards and she supplied Trialist B who finished well first time at the near post. The trialist added a third goal when she was set free with a defence splitting pass from Cerys Griffin and the trialist remained calm and slotted it past the on rushing keeper.
Crewe were 0-3 up at half time and Fisher rang the changes with the intense heat having an impact. Seren Redmond replaced Emilia Edwards, Eve Davenport replaced the impressive trialist B. Another trialist (Trialist C) replaced Katie Nuttall who looked to suffer a calf strain. The Alex were in control but weren't managing to create the clear opportunties that they did in the first half. Crewe grabbed another two goals later in the half courtesy of Trialist C. She grabbed one from close range before adding another on the third attempt after two good saves from the home keeper.
Crewe came close to conceding on the hour mark when Kidsgrove carved open the visitors but Hannah Holloway was on hand to make a brave save at the feet of the striker. Crewe grabbed a sixth on 82 minutes. Beth Grice got the goal her performance deserved when she picked the ball up on the right hand side and cut inside the left full back and smashed a superb effort over the keeper and into the top corner of the net. The closing quarter of the game saw Holloway replaced with young goalkeeper Tia Lockett and she needed to be alert to tip a low distance around the post late on.
Head Coach Matt Fisher "I've been very impressed with the return to training and today's game. We looked understandably rusty on our first session back but the girls have quickly got back to where they need to be. The intensity of training and today has been pleasing. We were brave and didn't panic in possession doing the things we know we need to do with the ball but I wasn't expecting at this early stage. I must thank John Williams (Kidsgrove Athletic) and the Kidsgrove girls for inviting us to be a part of this fundraising day. It was a great success."
When asked abut the trialists Fisher said "We had 4 trialists in training who played today. I was really pleased with all of them, They have offers from other clubs and we have to respect that they (the players) have choices to make."