A late goal from Slovakian youth international Matus Holicek saw Crewe Alexandra defeat Hull City in the FA Youth Cup 3rd Round at the Alexandra Stadium this afternoon.
Manager Lee Bell named Tom Booth in goal with a back 4 of Ty Webster, captain Connor O’Riordan, Zak Kempster-Down and Sean Lawton in front of him. In midfield were Joel Tabiner, Owen Lunt and Charlie Finney in a more advanced role while Max Woodcock and Holicek started either side of Connor Salisbury up front. On the bench were Sam Bhatti, Sam Crolla, Alex Higgins, Marquise Martins, Ben Wood, Senior and goalkeeper Jack Flint.
The Alex almost won a penalty in the 15th minute with Holicek having a penalty shout turned down before the Slovak would shoot over 12 minutes later. Tabiner would shoot wide from a free-kick with Holicek also coming close late in the first half.
O’Riordan would head over from a Tabiner corner 5 minutes after the break before O’Riordan and Salisbury would also have chances that wouldn’t test Macauley in the Hull goal. In the 72nd minute, another Tabiner corner was flicked on at the near post by Salisbury with Lawton not quite able to turn it in from a foot out with the goal coming 6 minutes from time with Holicek striking through a number of bodies into the far corner.
Crewe: Booth; Webster, O’Riordan, Kempster-Down, Lawton; Lunt, Tabiner, Finney; Woodcock (Martins 90), Salisbury (Bhatti 90), Holicek (Crolla 90)
Hull: Macauley, Leach, Curtis, Carr, Mills, Taylor, Green, Wallis (c), Hall, Brown (Nkompa 67), Panesar (Dyer 36)
