A Kane Hemmings penalty saw Crewe Alexandra defeat Morecambe at the Alexandra Stadium yesterday, the striker getting his first goal for the club.
Manager Lee Bell made 7 changes from Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat at Blackpool in the EFL Trophy as captain Mickey Demetriou, Zac Williams, Max Conway, Max Sanders, Conor Thomas, Kane Hemmings and Shilow Tracey came in for James Connolly, Lewis Billington and Jack Lankester (who all dropped down to the bench) as well as Charlie Finney, Owen Lunt, Kian Breckin and Chris Long who all missed out on the matchday squad. Former Alex captain George Ray was not involved for the visitors.
The opening chance came in the 22nd minute with Callum Jones missing the target before Demetriou was also unable to finish from a Ryan Cooney long throw a couple of minutes later. Tracey would have a shot blocked before Cooney would combine with Hemmings with the former Morecambe defender unable to get his shot off. The Alex would win a penalty 5 minutes before the break as a Sanders free-kick was kept alive by Jamie Knight-Lebel with Demetriou pulled back, Hemmings sending goalkeeper Stuart Moore the wrong way from the spot.
Half-time substitute Adam Lewis set his effort well over the bar a couple of minutes after the break before a poor kick from Marschall allowed full-back Luke Hendrie to get a shot off but he would only hit the side-netting on 55 minutes. Hemmings would have the next effort as he burst into the penalty area but dragged his shot wide of the goal before Cooney would have another shot that missed the goal on 63 minutes.
Marschall would deny Lee Angol from close range 15 minutes from time before the on-loan Villa keeper saved from Lewis’ effort a couple of minutes later after his corner was headed back out to him. Cooney twice and Knight-Lebel would make decisive blocks in the final 10 minutes as the Alex held on to achieve all three points.
The next games for the Alex see them travel to Accrington Stanley next Saturday before hosting Harrogate Town the following Saturday.
Final Thoughts:
It wasn’t the best performance we’ll ever see but it was enough to get the victory on the day.
Credit has to Marschall and Cooney in particular who shone in defensive areas (and for Cooney that’s not always the side of his game that is his best) as well as Knight-Lebel’s willingness to also back-up his wing-back with his own blocks.
Alexandra Stadium
League 2
7/09/2024 3:00 pm
Attendance: 4868
Referee: Scott Simpson
| Crewe Alexandra | Morecambe | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemmings | |||||||
| Marschall | Moore | ||||||
| Knight-Lebel | Hendrie | 62 | |||||
| Demetriou (c) | Williams | ||||||
| Williams | Stott | ||||||
| Cooney | Tutonda | 46 | |||||
| Thomas | Jones | ||||||
| Sanders | 62 | Songo'o (c) | 78 | ||||
| Conway | 62 | Edwards | 46 | ||||
| Tabiner | 84 | Macadam | |||||
| Tracey | 62 | Slew | 46 | ||||
| Hemmings | 75 | Angol | |||||
Substitutes |
|||||||
| Booth | Burgoyne | ||||||
| Bogle | 62 | A. Lewis | 46 | ||||
| Lankester | 62 | Harrack | |||||
| Holicek | 62 | P. Lewis | 46 | ||||
| Connolly | 75 | Tollitt | 78 | ||||
| Breckin | 84 | Dackers | 46 | ||||
| Billington | Millen | 62 | |||||
Game Statistics |
||
| 6 | Goal attempts | 13 |
| 2 | On Target | 3 |
| 1 | Corners | 7 |
| 17 | Fouls | 18 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 52 | % | 48 |