- Edwards hits four past Carlisle
- Crewe progress to the next round
- Back to winning ways in fashion
Emilia Edwards was in fine form scoring four goals, Laura Garner and Emma Heath were able to add to the scoreline to secure a safe passage to the next round of the Alliance Design and Print Cup (League Cup).
Crewe were strong favourites heading into the game, their visitors Carlisle United, are currently in the division below and in a poor run of form.
Fisher rang the changes with Everton duo Emily Cole and Ruby Deaville taking up places on the bench with Kirsty Stafford and Ellie Jones.
Jones, who signed in the summer from Falkirk, was in the squad for the first time due to a hold up in her International Clearance.
Crewe looked to apply some early pressure and it was all one way traffic in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
The Alex were regularly using the wide areas as their visitors continued to sit deep and remained compact.
Caitlin Bradbury was playing in an unusual role of left-back and she set Gibbons free, but her cross was volleyed wide from close range by Heath.
Fisher's side had a real urgency in their game and they opened the scoring courtesy of a trademark Laura Garner free-kick. She calmly slotted her effort through a messy defensive wall and into the bottom right corner of the net.
Crewe had a penalty appeal soon after waved away when Edwards was brought down just inside the penalty area, but the referee felt there was no contact.
FA Girls Emerging Talent Centre graduate Eva-Rose Tankard saw her first start come to a premature end as she sustained a knee injury halfway through the first half.
The hosts were able to double their lead shortly after the substitution as Gibbons delivered another superb cross from the left hand side and Edwards capitalised on a defensive mistake to tap home from close range.
Substitute Jones was immediately involved as she was able to assist Edwards for her second of the game. Jones beat two opponents before sliding the ball to Edwards who controlled the ball well and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
With the second period now underway, Crewe Women were camped in the Carlisle half with Jess Sheridan supplying the attacks from the back.
Edwards was able to complete her hat-trick with a superb strike from just outside of the box and now Crewe were running riot. Megan Ragdale ran at the Carlisle defence and after beating two of her opponents she selflessly squared the ball to Edwards who slammed the ball into the bottom corner of the visitors goal to make it 4-0.
It wasn't long before Crewe made it five and 17-year-old Heath got in on the action. A fairly routine cross into the Carlisle box was fumbled by the keeper and Heath was quickest to react from six yards out.
In the latter stage of the game, Fisher introduced top scorer Emily Cole and Ruby Deaville to the game, both of which have been in top form all year.
With seven minutes left of normal time, Edwards grabbed her fourth with a tidy finish.
Head Coach, Matt Fisher said: "We're really pleased with the way we played. In ties like this it is on us to generate the intensity and I felt we brought that.
"Emilia (Edwards) offered some different options in the final third than we've had recently and we're looking forward to seeing how that progresses."