A hat-trick from forward Connor Evans saw Crewe Alexandra come from behind against Ipswich Town in the Under-21 Professional Development League at the Alexandra Stadium this afternoon.
Manager Michael Jackson named Tom Booth in goal behind a back 4 of Sam Bhatti, Harvey Washington, Sean Lawton and Charlie Finney. In front of them were Zak Kempster-Down and Owen Lunt with Ty Webster, Matus Holicek and captain Chris Long playing behind Evans. Lucas Sant, Nathan Robinson, Rhys Alport, Jack Parry and goalkeeper Jack Flint were on the bench.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 13th minute as midfielder Osman Foyo scored with a drive from just outside the area with Booth getting a hand on it before the Alex equalised 4 minutes later as Long’s low cross was turned in by Evans. The Tractor Boys would retake the lead on the half-hour as winger Jack Manly pulled the ball back to full-back Michael Lavin whose effort went in off the underside of the bar from just inside the area before Finney would hit the base of the post a few minutes later after good hold-up play from Long.
The second equaliser came 3 minutes into the second half as Holicek played the ball into Evans, whose first effort was blocked before his second was curled into the corner with Lunt hitting the bar with a flick with Evans also hitting the bar with his follow-up header. He would complete his hat trick with 20 minutes to play as Finney’s corner was headed by Lunt into the path of the forward to score from close range. The woodwork would be hit for the fourth time in the game with 13 minutes to play as Lunt’s 25 yards drive would go behind for a goal-kick.
The next games at this level see the Alex travel to Birmingham City on Monday before travelling to Colchester United (both 7:00 pm kick-offs).
Crewe: Booth; Bhatti, Washington (Sant 46), Lawton, Finney (Parry 78); Lunt, Kempster-Down (Robinson 78); Webster, Holicek, Long (c, Alport 46); Evans
Ipswich: Woods; Lavin, Ayoola, F. Barbrook, H. Barbrook (Curtis 63); Foyo, O’Neill; Manly, Carr, Ayinde; Taylor
