Just Another Bubble

Stockport 3 Crewe 3

Have to be honest, but memories of this game are a little hazy. That might have something to do with starting on the ale in Wetherspoons in Manchester at about half ten in the morning... We were celebrating Matt's 30th birthday and what better way to celebrate a birthday than by having a few beers and watching the Alex? Don't answer that - it was a rhetorical question.
Beers were good we started in the Wetherspoons with breakfast and beer, moved on to the Old Wellington and thence to The Waldorf before a short train ride to Stockport and into the Robert Peel  (or John Peel as one of my companions named it) for a couple of final beers before the game.
From the Peel it was a short stagger to the ground, just in time for kick off. Probably would have been better staying in the pub for the first half though. It was fairly dreadful stuff with neither side looking like they had much of a clue. Unfortunately, the Crewe defence had less of a clue than the Stockport attack. Some woeful indecision from Adam Dugdale allowed Assoumani to easily win the ball and slip it past him on the edge of the area. Fletcher then slipped in the area but still had time to knock the ball across goal past the on-rushing keeper for Tansey to slot home a simple opener.  And they nearly doubled their advantage when a shot from Donnelly hit the outside of the post. as half-time drew near, there were plenty of unhappy fans in the crowd, including me. And I was even less happy when I decided to go and get a pie just before the break and missed Clayton Donaldson snatching us an equaliser. Chasing a hopeful punt up field, he barged through two defenders (instead of falling over like he usually does) and finished with aplomb from a tight angle.
The second half was a much more open game with both sides attacking and the game flowing from end-to-end. Crewe took the lead early doors when Donaldson  flicked a cross past Glennon in the Stockport goal. Despite then starting to dominate, Crewe conceded an equaliser as yet more comedy capers in the defence allowed Poole to have two chances from close range. he should never have had the first chance, let alone the second when his shot came back off the post and was knocked back to him in the centre of the goal. Arse. Dugdale didn't manage to stay on the pitch much longer, but to be honest I think most Crewe fans would have taken him off after the first goal. Luckily we didn't have long to wait till Danny Shelley capped a fine performance by lashing in a free-kick from 30 yards to put Crewe back in front.
But, of course, we are Crewe and less than ten minutes later, Stockport were level. Artell was adjudged to have brought down Fletcher on the edge of the area and the referee awarded what looked like a harsh penalty. Having seen the replays, it is very harsh. I've certainly seen incidents like that earn nothing for us this season.Taylor made a good effort but was unable to maintain his run of saving consecutive penalties and a side that had scored just two goals in their last eight games had now put three past us. There was still time for both sides to have chances and Glennon in the Stockport goal made a brilliant save from Donaldson at the death to deny us all three points. 
Overall, very frustrating, but typically Crewe. Starting to look like we can score for fun (we are the leading goalscorers in the leagues) but also looking like we can let them in for fun too. Might have been a slightly different result if we'd had Lee Bell in the middle to shield the back four a bit, but then we wouldn't have had Shelley, who was close to being man of the match.
Anyway, after the match it was off to Wilmslow for a few more beers and then back to Crewe for more beers and then I went up to The Box to see a couple of bands. I was very drunk and so it probably wasn't the best idea I've ever had. Oh well, at least I managed to get home safe and sound and picked up a curry on the way. result.
Next up for Crewe is Bradford at home, but with frost forecast along with snow and sub-zero temperatures, I'm not holding my breath that it'll be on.