2 goals from Shaun Miller saw Crewe Alexandra beat Cheltenham Town with a full starting XI that came through the academy at the Alexandra Stadium yesterday afternoon, despite George Lloyd’s first-half equaliser for the Robins.
Manager David Artell made 4 changes from last Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Crawley Town with Tom Lowery and James Jones coming into central midfield (with Ryan Wintle moving back into defence), Charlie Kirk playing on the left wing and Lewis Reilly coming in up front with Zoumana Bakayago, Jordan Bowery, Paul Green and Jamie Sterry all dropping out, all bar Bakayago on the bench alongside goalkeeper Dave Richards, Brad Walker, Chris Porter and another academy graduate Josh Lundstram (who was looking to make his debut).
The opening chance of the game came in the 12th minute as Joe Morrell’s free-kick was headed wide by defender Taylor Moore before Miller gave the Alex the lead 5 minutes later after a defensive mistake allowed him to slot the ball past Cheltenham debutant Rhys Lovett into the bottom corner.
Mohammed Eisa had the next effort for the visitors midway through the half with his effort from outside the area wide of Ben Garratt’s goal whilst they drew level just after the half-hour as Eisa’s effort from a tight-angle was turned in from close-range by Lloyd.
Into the second half where Miller had a shot from distance that went wide before substitute Jordan Bowery headed wide from a Charlie Kirk cross. Crewe took the lead again on 62 minutes as a ball in behind looked for Bowery, broke off a defender into the path of Miller to tuck away from the edge of the penalty area.
Fixtures for next season will be released Thursday 21st June at 9am.
Crewe: Garratt; Ng, Wintle, Ray ©, Pickering; Ainley (Porter 63), Jones, Lowery (Green 63), Kirk; Miller, Reilly (Bowery 50)
Cheltenham: Lovett; Moore, Boyle, Grimes (Bower 69), Cranston (Sellars 69); Odelusi, Morrell, Atangana, Chatzitheodoridis; Lloyd (Wright 73), Eisa
