Lankester Provides The Chip At The Mariners

Second-half goals from Jack Lankester and Joel Tabiner saw Crewe Alexandra regain a top-three position against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park yesterday.

Manager Lee Bell made 7 changes from Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Wrexham in the EFL Trophy as Mickey Demetriou, Ryan Cooney, Tabiner, Max Sanders, Max Conway, Matus Holicek and Lankester came in for Lewis Billington, Charlie Finney, Kian Breckin, Jack Powell, Owen Lunt, Fin Roberts (who all dropped to the bench) and Adrien Thibaut. Former Alex midfielder Callum Ainley was among the substitutes for the hosts.

The first chance came in the 5th minute as Lankester would have a shot saved by Jordan Wright in the hosts’ goal before Grimsby defender Cameron McJannet would head a cross over 10 minutes later. Lankester would again be denied by the Mariners’ number 1 from a Conway pass midway through the first half as the teams went in all square.

Lankester would not be denied in the 56th minute as a long ball from Sanders played the forward in behind the hosts’ defence with his lob from just inside the area going over Wright into the goal before the lead was doubled 7 minutes later as a tackle from Holicek allowed Tabiner to carry the ball from his own half, play it to Lankester who returned it to allow Tabiner to bend the ball into the bottom corner.

The next games for the Alex see them hosting Colchester United on Friday (with tickets costing a maximum of £10) before travelling to Cheltenham Town on Boxing Day (that game will be live on SkySports+).

Final Thoughts:

That was another game that the Alex were in control of without having too many troubles down the other end of the pitch with both goals being well taken, especially Lankester’s.

While many were concerned with the team that was picked, myself included, the team performed well from back to front allowing Marschall to get another clean sheet, taking his tally to 8 in the league.

Grimsby Town				Crewe Alexandra
				Lankester, Tabiner
Wright				Marschall
Cass				Knight-Lebel
Tharme				Demetriou (c)
McJannet				Connolly
Hume				Cooney
Luker			80	Tabiner			83
Green				Sanders			83
Thompson			67	Conway			88
Davies			67	Williams
Svanporsson			80	Holicek			69
Obikwu			40	Lankester			69
Substitutes
Auton				Bogle			69
Barrington			80	Lunt			69
Pyke			80	Roberts			83
Ainley				Powell			83
McEachran			67	Finney			88
Khouri			67	Breckin
Rose			40	Billington

Game Statistics
11	Goal attempts	9
1	On Target	5
4	Corners	4
7	Fouls	14
1	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
62	%	38