- Crewe manage to see off Salford to enter next round of qualifying in Vitality Women's FA Cup
- Pleasing away performance
- Top scorer Laura Garner adds another to her name
Amanda Fallon, Laura Garner and Emilia Edwards all get on the scoresheet to guide the Alex through to the next round of qualifying against Sherwood Women FC, October, 23 in the Vitality Women's FA Cup.
Another goal fest for the neutrals as Crewe competed at Salford's Peninsula Stadium for the first time.
Leading goalscorer Laura Garner was keen to get her name on the scoresheet as she hit a low shot from distance, which saw the Salford 'keeper scramble across her goal to claw the ball away. The deadlock was broken after some good work by Edwards on the right-hand side, Amanda Fallon was on hand to slam home from close-range.
The Alex doubled their lead in the 37th minute, when a through ball saw Fallon beat the 'keeper to the ball leaving her no option to bring the forward down in the penalty area. The ever reliable Garner stepped up and expertly converted from the spot. Salford weren't going to lie down for the away side though as they snatched one before the half-time interval.
A Crewe counter attack at the start of the second period saw Sheridan split the home defence and reach the forward run of Edwards who struck a low shot into the bottom corner. The two-goal cushion was restored. Salford were committing players forward and a shot from distance was deflected into the path of Laura Tobin who converted with just Holloway to beat. Towards the end of the game, Salford threw as many women forward as possible to snatch an equaliser. This allowed Crewe to break, but as Fallon rounded the keeper a last ditched goal-line clearance kept the score at 2-3.
Head Coach, Matt Fisher shared his verdict after the FA Cup victory, he said: "The girls were superb and the character they showed not only on the day but the whole week was great to see.
"Last week hurt them and they've trained ever so hard and it showed in the end. We had to absorb pressure at times, but I don't think we could've worked any harder than we did.
"I thought Jess Sheridan and Gemma Brough were brilliant and had superb games, as did Cerys Griffin. When we use our intelligence, work rate, alongside our technical ability that we've got - we are dangerous.
"Salford are a great team and the hospitality they showed us was first class, so thank to them and we wish them well for the rest of the season"