- Railwaymen register first away win of 2023
- Goal and assist for Baker-Richardson
- Third of the season for O’Riordan
Crewe Alexandra recorded their first away win of the year at Doncaster Rovers.
First-half goals from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Connor O’Riordan proved enough for all three points at Eco-Power Stadium.
The success has lifted Crewe to 17th, with 45 points in League Two.
It was a deserved win on the road, and a confidence boost ahead of the visit of Barrow on Good Friday.
Boss Lee Bell made four changes to the side that lost at Gillingham. James Beadle, O’Riordan, and Lachlan Brook, were restored to the starting 11 after returning from international duty, while Baker-Richardson started up front.
Dave Richards, Elliott Nevitt, and Regan Griffiths, dropped to the bench, while David Amoo was not in the squad.
For Doncaster, who were missing a number of players through injury, Tommy Rowe made his 600th career appearance.
Crewe started on the front foot and won three corners in the opening 12 minutes. Callum Ainley saw a good strike blocked by Charlie Seaman as they looked for an opener.
Brook forced a fumbled save from keeper Jonathan Mitchell on 24 minutes, and Joel Tabiner was just inches away from range shortly after.
Crewe deservedly hit the front on 32 minutes after Rio Adebisi’s ball into the box found its way to Baker Richardson, who beat Mitchell from an angle.
And on 38 minutes it was 2-0, when Ainley’s swirling corner was nodded back across goal by Baker-Richardson and O’Riordan was on hand to help it home from close range.
On the stroke of half-time, James Beadle made an important save as Kyle Hurst looked to pull one back before the whistle.
Seaman lobbed just over the bar early in the second half, as the hosts began to enjoy more territory.
Chances were at a premium as the sides scrapped it out in the middle, and both keepers were well protected.
Christopher Long, on for his first action since September 3, failed to make a convincing connection when the ball dropped in the box.
Bell switched to 4-2-4 for the final 20 minutes, sensing an opportunity to get a third. Baker-Richardson nearly got it, but Ben Nelson made a brave block.
Beadle made two great stops from a Nelson header and Rowe as the home side pressed in the final 10 minutes.
On 89 minutes Nevitt was denied by Mitchell from point-blank range, but Crewe had already done enough.
Doncaster (3-5-2): Mitchell; Anderson, Nelson, Olowu (Faulkener, 19); Rowe (Barlow, 84), Seaman, Molyneux, Hurst, Close; Miller (Goodman, 46), Ravenhill (Westbrooke, 46).
Subs not used: Bottomley, Agard, Degruchy.
Booked: None.
Crewe (4-3-3): Beadle; Mellor, O’Riordan, Offord, Adebisi (Robertson, 55); Thomas, Ainley (Griffiths, 71), Tabiner (Nevitt, 71); Agyei, Brook (Long, 62), Baker-Richardson.
Subs not used: Richards, Griffiths, Colkett, Nevitt, Kempster-Down.
Booked: None.
Referee: Ross Joyce.
Attendance: 5,993.