A hat-trick from a trialist helped Crewe Alexandra to an easy victory in the Under-23s Professional Development League at the Jobserve Community Stadium with Connor Salisbury also getting on the scoresheet.
Manager Lee Bell named Will Jaaskelainen in goal behind a back 4 of Sam Bhatti, Lewis Billington, Billy Sass-Davies and Sean Lawton. In midfield were Charlie Finney, Regan Griffiths and a trialist while Tyreece Onyeka, Salisbury and the other trialist started in the front 3. On the bench were Max Woodcock, Matus Holicek, Ben Wood and goalkeeper Tom Booth.
The opening goal of the game came in the 24th minute with Kaan Bennett heading in Chay Cooper’s cross over Jaaskelainen before the trialist would level with 9 minutes left of the first half with Salisbury scoring on the stroke of half-time.
The third would come 11 minutes after the break with the trialist getting his second before he would complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot with 12 minutes left to play.
The next game for the Alex at this level is scheduled for next Monday (11th) at home to Coventry City before travelling to Peterborough United the following Wednesday (20th), both games kicking off at 1:00 pm.
Alex: Jaaskelainen; Bhatti, Billington, Sass-Davies, Lawton; C. Finney, Griffiths, Trialist; Onyeka, Salisbury, Trialist
Colchester: Collins, Trialist, Trialist, Lowe, Trialist (Drakes-Thomas 68), Terry, Cooper, Kennedy, Ihionvien (Redgrave 45), Miranda, Bennett (Brown 85)
