Crewe Secure Brilliant Win At Chesterfield

Clayton Donaldson was key as the Alex became the first side to beat Chesterfield on their own turf in the league this season.

But it was far from straight forward.

Two penalties to Chesterfield in the first 20 minutes should have perhaps put the game out of reach before we had even got going. Mat Mitchel-King was, unsurprisingly, at fault for conceding both pens.

The first a trip on Spireites forward Jack Lester by Mitchel-King, jumping in when O’Donnell had the former Forest man covered. The penalty however was saved brilliantly by Steve Phillips in the Alex goal, getting down low to his right.

The second penalty just ten minutes later saw King needlessly lunge in on Lester – almost two footed – inside the penalty area. The referee had no hesitation giving it but Steve Phillips had no hesitation saving it. This time the former Bristol Rovers keeper getting down low to his left to parry away.

Giving the Alex a lift it took just five minutes for us to snatch an unlikely lead, Clayton Donaldson running onto a Joel Grant through ball before lifting it over the on coming keeper.

With Chesterfield unbeaten at home in the league this season you’d have been forgiving for settling on defending a 1-0 lead at Saltergate for 70 minute…. but Ashley Westwood had other ideas.

As the Alex slowly started to dominate the first half Ashley Westwood’s 20 yard free kick was beautifully converted 10 minutes from the break, the youngsters first goal in red.

For the third match running we went in two-nil at half time. Last week against Burton we managed to hold on to the three points but for many fans it was flashbacks to that comfortable 2-0 lead at Northampton that was surrendered so easily.

It was a nail biting second half, only getting worse 15 minutes from time when Chesterfield pulled one back through Talbot. Ian Breckin fired off the post 10 yards out after shoddy defending but Talbot was there to smash home the rebound.

As the clock ticked on the Spireites threw everything at the Railwaymen but somehow the fourth goal of the game came Crewe’s way. Clayton Donaldson charging down the right, crossing for Luke Murphy to convert.

At 3-1 in the 85th minute it seemed all over, unfortunately that would have been too easy. O’Donnell’s inability to defend shone through as Jack Lester took him on in the 89th minute. Leaving O’Donnell bamboozled by doing very little Lester was allowed to fire past Phillips.

Five minutes (and a bit) of injury time meant it was a pretty darn nerve racking end to the game for Alex fans but boy was it worth it.

Unfortunately that last minute Lester goal was the difference between 13th and 14th in the league (and being above and below Vale!) but we’ll take 14th at the moment.



ive points off the play-offs is not too bad considering. Let’s keep it up with Lincoln on Saturday.