- Railwaymen beaten by Red Dragons
- Skipper gets straight red in second half
- Debut by homegrown defender Robinson
Crewe Alexandra cannot progress in the Papa John’s Trophy after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Wrexham at Mornflake Stadium.
Goals from Ryan Tunnicliffe, Jordan Davies and Luke Young put paid to the Alex’s hopes of picking up points in Group B.
Captain Luke Offord was sent off in the second half but there were positives from the evening, including homegrown defender Nathan Robinson making his debut and Charlie Colkett completing 90 minutes for the first time this season.
But Port Vale’s penalties win over Newcastle United Under-21s on the same evening means they will join Wrexham in the knockout stages.
Now The Railwaymen will prepare for the visit of Tranmere Rovers in League Two on Saturday, with a number of key men rested and ready to go.
Boss Lee Bell made nine changes to the side that lost at Salford, with only captain Luke Offord and fellow defender Zac Williams the players to retain their places.
Wrexham, who made 11 changes, were ahead on five minutes when Tunnicliffe forced the ball home from the first corner of the game.
Joe White saw an effort from range saved by keeper Luke McNicholas, and then curled a direct free kick over the bar on 13 minutes.
But seconds later it was 2-0 when Davies picked up the ball and headed straight at the heart of the Alex defence, twisting and turning before drilling low into the net.
That changed the nature of the game and the visitors sat back in numbers, allowed the Alex possession and looked to counter.
Just after the half-hour mark Max Cleworth was denied by keeper Tom Booth at point-blank range after he met a dead ball from the Wrexham left. At the other end, Elliott Nevitt headed wide after a slick Alex move.
Booth was down smartly to hold a Jacob Bickerstaff strike, while White was denied by McNicholas again before the half-time whistle.
Davies whipped a free-kick soon after the restart but Booth was equal to it, while Offord had two blocks as the Alex looked for a foothold in the game.
Superb defending at the near post by Zac Williams prevented Bickerstaff from killing the game.
On 64 minutes Colkett’s curler was held by McNicholas after he was teed up by Charlie Finney
Davies turned on the edge of the box and sent a half-volley which Booth had to tip over the bar, before Crewe’s task became steeper on 72 minutes.
Offord was shown a straight red card for bringing down Bickerstaff as he raced toward goal, and Young made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Robinson came on for his debut in the final 10 minutes, becoming the 13th homegrown player to represent the club this season.
Owen Lunt blasted a shot which hit a defender as the Alex looked for a consolation, but there was no way back.
Crewe (3-4-3): Booth; Williams (Robinson, 81), Offord, Billington; Lunt, White (Nolan, 74), Colkett, Finney; Agius, Rowe, Nevitt.
Subs not used: Davies, Adebisi, Baker-Richardson, Tracey, Powell.
Booked: Colkett.
Sent off: Offord.
Wrexham (3-5-1): McNicholas; Boyle, Tunnicliffe, Cleworth; Young, Hosannah, Cannon, J Davies (James, 85), McAlinden; Dalby (Ashfield, 90), Bickerstaff.
Subs not used: Hall, Barnett, Cushion, D Davies, Edwards.
Booked: J Davies.
Referee: A Jackson.
Attendance: 3,751 (1,644).