Match Report
Nantwich Town were beaten 4-1 by League One neighbours Crewe Alexandra in front of more than 1,000 fans at the Weaver Stadium.
This now traditional pre-season match-up saw Crewe boss Steve Davis return to his old hunting ground where he found success almost 10 years ago.
And although Crewe’s league position proved too much for the Dabbers in the end, Nantwich boss Phil Parkinson will be proud of the effort his Evo-Stik Premier League side put in.
Crewe did not take this game lightly, and fielded a near full-strength line up with only three weeks to go before the new league campaign kicks off.
It only took the visitors five minutes to get on the scoresheet, despite a bright start by Nantwich who could have taken the lead minutes earlier through former Crewe winger Steve Jones.
Harry Davis scrambled in the opener for the Alex, first to a rebound off the post after a powerful low drive by Lauri Della Valle.
George Cooper almost made it 2-0 with a delightful lob which sailed over Terry Smith in the Nantwich goal but cannoned off the crossbar.
Nantwich were gifted an equaliser and a way back in to the match on 32 minutes.
A whipped cross from a free kick by Matt Bell caused panic in the Alex defence and centre back George Ray headed the ball past his own keeper Ben Garratt (pictured).
It was the lift Nantwich needed and they began to play some good possession football.
Matty Kosylo was their biggest threat and he had a header well saved by Garratt, while the speed of Andy White and Lewis Short had Crewe’s backline back-pedalling more than once.
At the break, both sides made changes but it was Crewe who took the lead when Della Valle pounced on a loose ball in the area after an attack down Nantwich’s right.
Nantwich struggled to get a foot-hold in the second half, and Crewe’s promising youngster Cooper sealed the win on 75 minutes when he burst clear down the right and blasted into the roof of the net for 3-1.
The Dabbers battled hard and were resolute in defence.
An error by substitute keeper Kristian Burzynski in goal gifted Crewe’s fourth ten minutes from time as his clearance was charged down by Alex substitute Callum Saunders who tapped home into an empty net.
Match report written by the Nantwich News
