The Best of Jill Hives

Crewe 4 Burton 1

Another home game without a lucky walk, but this time it mattered not as Crewe had this game sewn up within half an hour. A goal after just two minutes by Donaldson, beating the keeper at the near post with a soft shot, was followed by a goal for Miller, beating the keeper at the far post from a similar position, after seven minutes. Two up and cruising, Crewe were looking threatening every time they attacked a shellshocked Burton. There was then a lengthy interruption in play as the referee pulled up with a muscle strain and had to be replaced. There was a call for a qualified referee to replace the 4th official, but sadly, someone had got there before I could get down from my seat at the top of the main stand... On the half hour mark, Crewe were given the chance to extend their lead. Artell was felled by a clumsy push as he competed for a free-kick and the referee awarded a penalty. Of course, being Crewe, this wasn't a foregone conclusion. Indeed Donaldson stepped up and hit the penalty towards the corner only to see Legzdins in goal claw it away. Luckily, the referee's assistant pointed out that Legzdins had stepped forward off his line before the penalty was struck and the referee awarded a re-take. This time Donaldson put more power in his shot and Legzdins dived the wrong way and Crewe were three ahead. After the dire results in February this was more than anyone expected. Burton manager Paul Peschisolido made a couple of changes after 35 minutes and changed the shape of the team to try to get something out of the game but having made it to half time without conceding I was pretty confident Crewe would win the game.
The second half was a completely different affair. With Crewe content to play on the counter-attack and Burton throwing men forward to try to get a goal back, you might have thought that Burton were the team with the three goal cushion. Crewe did appear to be trying to shoot themselves in the foot at times, with the midfield playing so close to the defence that they almost had a flat back eight at times. Burton came close a few times, with Taylor making a couple of decent saves and Westwood and Blanchett making goal-line clearances. However, the threatened goal didn't come until the 83rd minute when an unmarked Winnell had time at the far post to volley in past a helpless Taylor. It was disappointing that Crewe couldn't keep a clean sheet, but perhaps not surprising - they've only managed 7 this season. Still, there was time left in the game for Burton to score more, but they couldn't find a way through. Instead Crewe notched a fourth goal in the second minute of injury time. Substitute Shelley held the ball up well in midfield and found fellow sub Leitch-Smith whose return pass was straight into his run into the area. Shelley's shot deflected off the keeper straight into the path of Donaldson who tapped in from two yards to claim his first hat-trick in the English Football League.
Post-match, despite the win, there was plenty of grumbling in the bar. The second half performance hadn't been good enough, they didn't keep a clean sheet, the scoreline flattered us, that sort of thing. But to be honest, I was happy we'd got a win. I'll take 13 more poor performances like that if we win every game.
There's another must win away at Macclesfield on Tuesday night before a momentous clash with league leaders Chesterfield on Saturday. After giving them an almighty scare at their place before eventually hanging on a 5-5 draw, Crewe will be hoping to put them to bed this time. It'll be a tough game though, so I'll definitely be arranging a lucky walk!