Goals from Malachi Linton, Alex Nicholls and a stunner from Eddie Nolan gave Crewe Alexandra’s Under-23 team victory against table toppers Leeds United in the U23 Professional Development League at Reaseheath this afternoon.
Manager Alex Morris named Dave Richards in goal with a back 4 of Travis Johnson, captain Michael Raynes, Nolan and Kevin O’Connor. In front of them, Nicholls, Josh Lundstram, Luke Offord and Rio Adebisi played in midfield while Lewis Reilly partnered Linton up front.
The opening goal of the game came on the half-hour mark as Leeds midfielder Lewis Baker was dispossessed with the ball played forward for Linton to smash across goalkeeper Jamal Blackman before two goals early in the second half meant Crewe were in control.
Firstly, Nicholls’s right-wing run from the half-way line ended at the edge of the box where he fired past Blackman before Nolan turned his man, curling the ball into the top corner from just outside the 6-yard box. There was a consolation goal for the visitors scored by half-time substitute Jack Clarke as he headed home from a left-wing cross from Jordan Stevens.
The next game for the Alex at Under-23 level sees a trip to Hull City in 2 weeks time (Mon 19th) with a 7pm kick-off.
Crewe (4-4-2): Richards, T.Johnson, Raynes (c), Nolan, O’Connor; Nicholls, Lundstram, Offord, Adebisi; Linton, Reilly
Leeds (4-1-4-1): Blackman; Gotts, Shaughnessy, Davis, Odour; McCalmont; Stevens, Saiz, Baker (Clarke 46), Harrison (Shackleton 46); Roberts (Dalby 62)
