- Baker-Richardson blasts late winner
- Striker now top-scorer with eight
- Railwaymen rise to fourth in the table
Courtney Baker-Richardson’s 98th minute penalty earned three points in dramatic style for Crewe Alexandra.
A fast-paced and entertaining game with Notts County looked set to end goalless until Ryan Cooney’s cross hit the raised arm of Jodi Jones and a spot-kick was awarded.
Baker-Richardson kept cool under the pressure of a long delay to drive home from 12 yards and send the home fans into raptures at Mornflake Stadium.
The victory was reward for an impressive and resilient display from Lee Bell’s side, who are now up to fourth in League Two.
Now they will rest up and prepare for a big FA Cup replay at Derby County in midweek.
The Manager made two changes to the side that drew with Derby, with fit-again Shilow Tracey and Aaron Rowe recalled to a three-pronged attacked. Elliott Nevitt (thigh) was ruled out and Lewis Billington dropped to the bench.
County, who had ex-Premier League striker David McGoldrick leading their attack, survived early penalty appeals when Tracey went down in the box under a challenge, and then keeper Sam Slocombe held a shot from Joe White.
Mickey Demetriou made a super block to deny Aaron Nemane who had dribbled his way into the box, as the visitors started to ask questions of the Alex defence.
Baker-Richardson screwed wide after seizing on a mistake in the County rearguard, while on 24 minutes Demetriou couldn’t quite find the net from a tight angle after arriving onto Rio Adebisi’s cross.
On 37 minutes keeper Harvey Davies made a brilliant save to prevent Macauley Langstaff from breaking the deadlock – racing from his line to claw away a low strike.
Baker-Richardson showed good reactions to get his head to the ball when Slocombe flapped at a Joe White free-kick towards the end of the half but he couldn’t guide it on target.
Rowe wriggled free and fired over soon after the restart, while at the other end Jodi Jones was inches wide after meeting a Nemane cross.
Tracey dragged it past Lewis Macari but lifted his shot over from an angle on the hour mark, while McGoldrick’s dipping volley was held by Davies as the end-to-end nature of the clash continued.
Langstaff was desperately close with a curler from 25 yards and, as the game wore on, County started to boss possession.
A magnificent sliding block from the outstanding Connor O’Riordan stopped McGoldrick’s left-footer, and then Davies palmed another effort from the striker for a corner.
On 87 minutes a raking ball from O’Riordan sent Cooney racing clear but his lob landed on the roof of the net after Slocombe had raced out of his area to apply pressure.
But the drama in injury time saw the Alex snatch a late winner. Cooney raced forward again and his cross was handled in the box.
The assistant referee signalled for a penalty but there was a long delay as crowd interference meant the spot-kick could not be taken.
However, Baker-Richardson showed great composure to beat Slocombe from 12 yards and pocked the points for the hosts.
Crewe (3-4-3): Davies; O’Riordan, Offord, Demetriou, Adebisi, White, Thomas (Billington, 84), Cooney; Tracey (Colkett, 76), Rowe (Finney, 76), Baker-Richardson.
Subs not used: Booth, Agius, Billington, Nolan, Robinson.
Booked: Offord, Cooney.
Notts (3-4-3): Slocombe; Macari, Baldwin, Cameron; Nemane (Randall, 75), Austin (Gosling, 80), O’Brien, Jones; Langstaff, McGoldrick, Crowley.
Subs not used: Stone, Brindley, Rawlinson, Adebayo-Rowling, Morias.
Booked: O’Brien, Baldwin, Jones, Randall
Referee: S Mather.
Attendance: 5,663 (1,541).