Goals in either half from Dan Agyei helped Crewe Alexandra to defeat play-off chasing Salford City at the Alexandra Stadium last night with Joel Tabiner getting his first senior goal and Connor O’Riordan also scoring.
Manager Lee Bell made two changes from last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sutton United as O’Riordan and Callum Ainley came in for the suspended Rod McDonald and Sean Robertson, the latter dropping down to the bench where he was joined by Charlie Colkett and David Amoo who both returned after injury. Former Alex midfielder Matty Lund started for the visitors.
The opening chance fell to the visitors in the 10th minute with on-loan Manchester United midfielder Ethan Galbraith shooting straight at James Beadle before they opened the scoring 9 minutes later as Luke Bolton got in behind Rio Adebisi with his cross allowing Louie Barry to score from close range. The Alex full-back would hit the post with a header from a Tariq Uwakwe corner before the Alex would level from the penalty spot on the half-hour, Nevitt fouled in the area with Agyei smashing the ball into the top corner.
The hosts took the lead with 5 minutes left of the half as a defensive mistake allowed Tabiner to lob the ball over goalkeeper Alex Cairns from 40 yards out before the Ammies were level at the break thanks to Callum Hendry’s strike from just inside the area.
They would take the lead with 5 minutes to play as substitute Mallan would score from outside the area before the Railwaymen would level themselves a couple of minutes later as a corner from substitute Colkett was nodded down by Elliott Nevitt with O’Riordan scoring from a backheel. That would be the end of the scoring, right? Wrong, Agyei would control the ball from a Nevitt shot that was saved, turned and fired an effort off the inside of the post to send the home crowd bouncing.
The next games for the Alex see them travelling to Stevenage on Tuesday before another away game at Northampton Town next Saturday.
What can we take out of this game?
What a game!
Both teams will be happy with their efforts going forwards but frustrated with their team’s defensive efforts.
Hopefully, we’ll see more of that attacking way of playing in the future while working on the defensive side of the game.