Strikers Connor Salisbury and Tyreece Onyeka saw Crewe Alexandra advance to the semi-finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup at the Alexandra Stadium last night despite former Alex youngster Fenton Green’s equaliser for Northern Premier League side Hyde United.
New Under-23s manager Lee Bell named Will Jaaskelainen in goal behind a back 5 of Max Woodcock, Sam Bhatti, Lewis Billington, Sean Lawton and Matus Holicek. In midfield were Charlie Finney alongside brother Oli (the Alex captain on the night) and Madger Gomes while Salisbury and Onyeka started up front. On the bench were Ben Wood, Lucas Sant, Lewis Nolan, Jack Senior and goalkeeper Tom Booth.
The opening goal of the game came in the 17th minute with Salisbury volleying home a left-sided cross from his skipper before the Alex would win a penalty before the break as Holicek would draw a foul out of a defender with Gomes having his penalty saved by James Chew. It would be a key moment as the visitors would level just before the break as a corner was flicked on at the near post with Green heading in from close range.
Trusty would hit the outside of the post before he would force a great save from Jaaskelainen, both within the opening 5 minutes of the second period. The Alex took the lead on the hour-mark as a cross-field ball was controlled well by Onyeka with his left-footed finish beating Chew.
The Alex advance to face Stockport County at Edgeley Park in the semi-final stage.
Alex: Jaaskelainen; Woodcock (Senior), Bhatti, Billington (Sant 46), Lawton, Holicek (Wood 74); C. Finney, Gomes, O. Finney (c); Salisbury, Onyeka
Hyde: Chew, Hurst, Summers, Fogerty (c), Igwenwanne, Grant, Waters (Strong 67), Green, Butterworth, Trusty (Sherratt 70), Coogan (Rourke 61)
