Goals from Manchester City loanee Ben Knight and captain Oli Finney saw Crewe Alexandra defeat Sandbach United in the first round of this season’s Cheshire Senior Cup, despite Liam Fitzpatrick’s late consolation, setting up a home game against Alsager Town in the 2nd Round.
Manager Alex Morris named Will Jaaskelainen in goal behind a back 5 of Josh Lundstram, Zak Kempster-Down, Nathan Woodthorpe, Sean Lawton and Joel Tabiner. In midfield were Joe Robbins, Regan Griffiths and Finney with Knight playing off Tyreece Onyeka up front. On the bench were Charlie Finney, Owen Lunt, Matus Holicek, Ty Webster and goalkeeper Sam Booth. Former Alex youngster Chris Rowntree started in the visitors’ midfield while the elder O’Riordan brother, Declan, started in their defence.
The hosts would take the lead in the 34th minute as Knight pounced on a defensive error before rounding goalkeeper Hamlett and firing into the empty net with Stan Tatters hitting the bar a couple of minutes later from a corner, coming close to an equaliser.
The lead doubled just before the hour-mark with Finney beat Hamlett with a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Sandbach got one back with 7 minutes to play with substitute Fitzpatrick getting the final touch as Robbie Hatton’s goalbound effort was partially saved by Jaaskelainen.
The next games at this level see host Sheffield Wednesday a week today (24th, 1:00 pm) at the Alexandra Stadium before traveling to Sheffield United next month (Tues 7th, 7:00 pm) at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium.
Alex: Jaaskelainen; Lundstram, Kempster-Down, Woodthorpe, Lawton, Tabiner (C. Finney 70); Robbins, Griffiths, O. Finney; Onyeka, Knight
Sandbach: Hamlett, Chapman, O’Riordan, Greenwood (Fitzpatrick 65), Buckley, Rowntree, Tatters, Moscrop, Knight (Hajri 80), Hatton, Parker (Southern 62)
