Daysleeper

Crewe 2 Morecambe 1
Apologies for the delay in this update on last Friday's match - I was busy enjoying myself on Saturday and Sunday, so didn't have chance to get round to it!
Anyway, having endured the dismal delights of the previous weekend's draw against Lincoln, I was hoping for better. Especially as I was taking my nephew to his first Crewe game in a long time. I think he's come to a couple of youth games in the meantime, but the last game we could both recall him being at was a dreadful FA Cup win over Ebbsfleet at the tail end of Steve Holland's managerial career. Well, I'm pleased to report that the game was better than that, but not by much. Crewe once again looked like they were ready for their summer holidays for much of the first half, with the midfield struggling to make inroads and both Grant and Miller looking out of sorts up front. Morecambe were clearly taking their cue from Lincoln and working hard to try to close down the midfield and put pressure on the defence. It wasn't making for a free-flowing game and chances were few and far between at both ends. Crewe had one chance early doors and thereafter Morecambe were on top but mostly reduced to shooting from distance. Taylor in the Crewe goal made one particularly fine save but there were few other alarms in the first half.
In the second half, Crewe upped their game a bit and started to get on top. Donaldson forced a brave stop from the Morecambe keeper, who required lengthy treatment. Crewe looked to press their advantage but then, in typical Crewe fashion, shot themselves in the foot. A deep cross to the back post wasn't claimed by Taylor, half-cleared by Tootle and Morecambe's Phil Jevons drove the ball back in for Garry Hunter to tap in at the near post. Disappointing to say the least. Nearly an hour gone and Crewe behind at home again. It could have been worse - Spencer got took advantage of hesitation between Taylor and Westwood Sr to lob the keeper, but Dugdale got back to make a goal-line clearance. On 66 minutes Dario made a change, withdrawing an out-of-sorts Miller and giving Max Clayton his professional debut. There has been a lot of talk about the ability of the 16-year old and he lived up to some of the hype by having a very busy half hour. He made some excellent runs, was always looking for space and, for a small lad, had a good leap on him to win the ball in the air. Even the arrival of Morecambe man-mountain Jim Bentley hardly threw the lad off his stride. The only disappointing thing was that he couldn't cap his performance with a goal, but that might have been a bit too good to be true. With Clayton livening up the Crewe attack, the chances started coming again and Donaldson finally got in on the act snapping up the rebound off the goalkeeper from a Grant shot and drawing Crewe level. Crewe than had a decent shout for a penalty as Donaldson appeared to be wrestled down in the area but the referee waved away the appeals. It looked like being another frustrating afternoon for the Alex as normal time ticked away, but there was still 5 minutes of injury time to play. In the third of those minutes, Donaldson hurled a long throw into the area. The ball was cleared to Bell, who lifted it back in and on to the head of the on-rushing Donaldson, who put his header across goal and in off the far post. It was a magnificent header - directed to about the only place where the keeper couldn't have saved it. Cue scenes of joy and delirium as Crewe came from behind to win for the first time this season.
Now if only they can stop the losing streak on the road....