Monday, 17 January 2011

Creeping Up On You (Part 2)

Torquay 2 Crewe 1
And so, following the Saturday victory, it was off, in expectation rather than hope, to Torquay for the Tuesday night game. A mere 240 miles or so. Determined to make an occasion out of it, a few of us had booked time off and were staying overnight. We made an early start, departing from Crewe on the 8.22 train to Stafford. Changing at Stafford our party was split as there weren't enough spare seats for us to be together. No problemo. Once the train arrived at Birmingham the commuters all departed and there was plenty of room. We bagged us a table and one or two of us started on the beers. I was determined to be sensible, so didn't crack one open till after we'd departed Cheltenham just before 11. It was probably the last sensible thing I did all day...
Rather than travelling straight to Torquay, we de-trained at Newton Abbot for a couple of cheeky beers and some lunch. Beers were drunk and food wolfed down. After a restful couple of hours, it was back to the station and on to the train to complete the journey down to Torquay. Except we got off at Torre as that's where the Travelodge we'd all booked into was. Stopping only to dump bags in rooms and freshen up a little, it was into a taxi and off into Torquay  for yet more beers and to meet up with fellow Crewe fans. At around six o'clock-ish, it was time to head up to the ground for a few beers in the Torquay club bar. Probably not a good idea for me - I was suffering already. The beers there nearly finished me off. I was so drunk I had to get someone to pick up my free tickets for me.
Sadly, for all of us, our efforts in making the journey were rewarded with possibly the worst 45 minutes of football that Crewe have played all season. They were quickly a goal down and Torquay could have added more before they notched their second. Crewe were lucky to go in only two down at half time.
In complete contrast, Crewe came out much the stronger in the second half and had a couple of good chances before Danny Shelley crashed in a thunderous free kick. They kept pressing and late on Donaldson could have snatched a point when clean through on goal but he dragged his shot wide. On the balance of play, a draw would have been a bit harsh on Torquay, who had blown Crewe away in the first half.
Anyway, post-match it was back into the Torquay club bar to drown our sorrows. Or drown some chips in a pint of Guinness, as was actually the case. Luckily for our livers, they threw us out at closing time and it was back to the Travelodge to crash out for the night.
Wednesday morning and we all had a bit of a lie-in before heading off back into Torquay for breakfast and more beers. Thence it was off to the station for a train to Dawlish for some lunchtime beers. Once we'd had a few there, we stocked up with train beers for the journey home. The journey back lasted four hours, unfortunately the beer didn't. Mind, one of our party was reaching his limit. Once back in Crewe, we had a couple more before I called it a night, finally staggering back into my house a full 37 hours after I had left it.
So much for cutting down on the beers. I have to say that when my alarm went off at 7 the next morning I truly was sick, sorry and sober....

Creeping Up On You (part 1)

Crewe 3 Wycombe 0

A bit of a late catch up from me here as I was too busy to do it last week. Blame my boss for making me do some work instead of letting me surf the web all day. That and the fact that I went to Torquay mid-week (more of which in Part 2).
First up was a home game against an in-form Wycombe Wanderers. I went for a lucky walk as is usual before most Saturday home games. This time we went up to Delamere Forest and had a good, hard 90 minutes or so trekking, without much in the way of rest either. The wind was surprisingly cold but, apart from that, it was a good workout.
With both sides having a decent recent record, this game was odds-on to be a tight affair and so the first half proved. Crewe created chances, but couldn't put them away. Wycombe didn't create as much but still had two good chances to take the lead. I would have settled for a goal-less draw if offered it at half-time.
It turned out I would have been a fool - Crewe came out and totally dominated the second half. Having missed two easier chances in the first half, Donaldson finally put us ahead with some sublime footwork leaving a Wycombe defender on the floor, before Donaldinho smashed the ball past the keeper. Just a minute later he doubled the advantage latching on to an excellent through-ball from Shelley and knocking an early shot beyond the despairing Wycombe keeper. Crewe had been all over Wycombe since the break and it was just reward. Shaun Miller added the icing on the cake late on, tapping in a rebound after Lee Bell's shot had hit the post. It was the least Crewe deserved and maintained their perfect start to 2011 - three wins and three clean sheets.

Thursday, 6 January 2011

Canyons of Your Mind

Shrewsbury 0 Crewe 1

On reflection, it probably wasn't a good idea to start on the ale at eleven o'clock in the morning, but at least I had the sense not to carry on celebrating Crewe's win when I got back to Nantwich. I wasn't looking forward to returning to work after a 12-day break as it was and a hangover might have persuaded me to give it a miss altogether...
Anyway, I was up and breakfasted reasonably early on Bank Holiday Morning and it was straight on to Fordy's fun bus for a jolly day out. We stopped at the Sports club in Prees, as per last season, and tucked into the ale. I had, over the course of the stop there a pint of Ansells Mild, two pints of Stonehouse Cambrian Gold, a pint of Caledonian Deuchars IPA and a pint of Wood's Triple A. It wasn't just ale, ale and more ale though - I did have a sausage baguette and a bacon bap whilst I was there. It was back on board the bus and off to the ground shortly before 2pm.
Once at the ground I met up with a couple of mates and had time for a handy bottle of Carling before kick-off. Taking my place in the stand I was glad that I'd had the foresight to bring my sunglasses, as the low winter sun penetrated the clouds and shone right into our faces. Even withe sun in our eyes we could see that Crewe were really up for the game. With the midfield controlling the game and the pace of Donaldson, Miller and Grant troubling the Shrewsbury defence, it looked like the Alex were on top. There were occasional worries from Shrewsbury attacks but by and large Ada and Artell had their strikers in their pockets. The most frustrating thing for us Crewe fans was that it looked like the side were going to have one of those days when they couldn't score. I even texted a mate to that effect at half-time.
Having managed to dodge the queue at the tea bar at half-time and slip in for a Carling, a cottage pie and a coffee (the coffee wasn't for me) it was back into the stands for more of the same in the second half. Crewe's forwards kept creating chances and in quick succession both Miller and Donaldson dragged shots wide with only the keeper to beat. Fortunately the goal that they were now threatening arrived in the 67th minute, when Tootle's low cross found an unmarked Miller on the edge of the six-yard box and he sent the keeper the wrong way with a cool finish. He also sent the 680 Crewe fans wild with excitement. Shrewsbury responded by throwing on their substitutes and there were a few hairy moments, including a goal-line clearance by Lee bell as Crewe looked to hold on. In the end though, they were running the clock down with the ball down in the Shrewsbury corner adn looking fairly comfortable and good value for the win.
An excellent result for the lads and a second win of the year and a second clean sheet. Plenty more tough games to come (Wycombe, Torquay and Port Vale in quick succession) but an encouraging start to the year. If the midfield can maintain that sort of control and form and the strikers start putting away their chances, Crewe must have a realistic chance of making the play-offs and even challenging for automatic promotion. After all there's nearly always one side that puts together a great run after Christmas and there's no reason why it shouldn't be the Alex. Please?

Sunday, 2 January 2011

Easy Lover

Crewe 2 Northampton 0
First game of 2011 and I'll be quite happy if the rest of them are as straight-forward as this one. Northampton had a couple of chances early doors, but once Crewe had weathered the storm, they were hardly troubled. Which was a bit of a relief because I didn't go for my lucky walk in the morning. Mind you, given the weather - constant drizzle - I was glad I didn't go. It was the sort of rain that didn't feel too bad, but soon soaked you through. Not ideal conditions for walking in, let alone playing football, and there was a slight concern that the pitch at Gresty Road might be waterlogged. No worries on that front, although it did cut up quite badly in the second half.
As for the game, well, the Cobblers had a couple of threatening opportunities early doors and even hit the crossbar with a dangerous cross, but once Crewe settled, they were in control. Donaldson, in particular, caused the defenders all manner of problems and really should have put Crewe ahead a lot earlier than he did. Having missed two one-on-one chances, he finally opened the scoring with probably his most difficult chance as he raced through and lobbed the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper.  Much relief all round.
Second half, it was much the same - Northampton not offering much and Crewe wasting several decent chances. Miller doubled the lead with some fantastic footwork in the box, bringing the ball down and skipping past the keeper before sliding it in. After that, the game was as good as over. Crewe did their best to play themselves into trouble occasionally - giving the ball away in midfield far too often - but the Cobblers weren't good enough to take advantage.
As useful and decent performance, and with the team hardly having to get out of second gear, hopefully they'll have plenty left in the tank for tomorrow's game at high-flying Shrewsbury. And, indeed, for the numerous games coming up in the busy month of January. Subject to the weather, of course.

Monday, 27 December 2010

Bout of Sobriety

Crewe P-P Southend
As I suggested in my last post, the game against Southend tomorrow has been postponed. The run of low temperatures has seen night-time temperatures dropping well below the -5C, which is the lower limit of the pitch cover's effective working temperature. The forecast thaw has arrived, but too late to save the game - the frozen pitch is unlikely to unfreeze before tomorrow and, given the distance from Southend and the time that travelling supporters would have to set off, an early postponement was probably sensible. Let's just hope that the thaw continues this week and that the pitch is ready for Saturday's game at home to Northampton.

Thursday, 23 December 2010

Winter Solstice Blues

Accrington Stanley P-P Crewe

With winter still firmly gripping the country and temperatures struggling to rise above freezing, Crewe's Boxing Day trip to Accrington has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. Good early decision, meaning we can all make alternate plans. No chance of a thaw before the middle of next week from the look of it, so the game on the 28th must also be in doubt.

Ice In The Sun

Crewe P-P Bradford

To no great surprise, in the midst of the coldest December since 1891 a frozen pitch saw this game called off. Well, I say 'frozen pitch', but in actual fact, under the covers, the pitch was playable. Unfortunately, as soon as the covers were removed the pitch started freezing in the sub-zero temperatures and the referee decided it was going to become dangerous, so called the game off.

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

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.

Thursday, 2 December 2010

Chinese Laundry Blues

Crewe P-P Wycombe
It came as no great surprise, given the weather conditions, but the upcoming Saturday game against Wycombe was called off at lunchtime today. Not a terrible disappointment for me, to be honest, as I've got to pop round to my sister's on Saturday to do my washing. My washing machine is in the outhouse and has frozen up in the cold conditions. I'm running out of clean pants so can't wait for it to thaw, sadly. Of course, now the Crewe game has been called off, the temperature is bound to soar over the next two days and we'll all be walking down the streets in T-shirts and shades... Alright, maybe not.
There might be another update following the outcome of the World Cup bid, but, to be honest, it'll most likely be next week, after the Stockport game.

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Rockin' All Over The World

Morecambe 1 Crewe 2

Didn't go. Was expecting to when this game was originally scheduled for Tuesday 23rd November but, because both teams were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first time of asking, they re-arranged the game for last Saturday. The Saturday that I'd booked up more than three months ago for a weekend piss-up and Status Quo in Bridlington.  We won. I was pleased. The Quo were very good. We all got very drunk.