A warm day at Crewe saw the Tigers match up with the strong Crewe Fc Tigers.
Betley started well following the instructions of the management team of quick thinking, passing and width. Crewe chased and tackled with their normal strength making life harder for the midfield. Babbell marshalled the defense with viddic well again reducing the opposition to a handful of chances. What Rayna had to do he did well, showing that his practice on Saturday had paid off. Midway through the first period Rayna collected the ball and distributed the ball wide, perfect, Gerrrard sat back and a Crewe player slipped in to quickly get his shot off which crept inside the far post. The Tigers were stunned, but got back on with the job, Crewe clearly very 'up' for the game and were further lifted by the goal. Moments later Torress sent a long freekick dipping against the post which Crewe scrambled away for a corner. As the period drew to a close Tenko slipped Torres a pass who headed for goal, but was hauled down on the edge of the penalty area, despite the WAMS appeal a free kick was awarded. The resulting free kick was not to Torrres' normal standard and the period ended with Crewe holding a 1 nil lead.
Birthday boy De Sar took the gloves and in straight swap for Rayna. Betley came out firing with Torress linking well with Gerrarrd down the left before driving the equaliser home. Soon afterwards Torress linked with Tenko, slipped the defender and made it 2-1 with a low drive. Crewe seemed a different team and Babbell and Viddic again handled what attackes came their way. Tenko again showed good skill and strength down the right, but wasn't rewarded with a goal today.
Into the final period, Rayna replaced viddic, Gerrrard took the gloves and De Sar pushed down the left. Torress had a familiar game, lots of energy and headed for goal at any and every opportunity! Early on Tenko and babbell combined well to get the ball to Torress who neatly skipped round the defender to drive home is 3rd. The fourth goal came soon afterwards after great work down the left by De Sar. He chased the ball to the byline, the Crewe player stopped only for De Sar to hook the ball back into the middle wear Torress lept high catching the ball square on his left side of his face and into the net.....ouch but a goal!
Tenko and rayna stood strong in defense, with Tenko sitting well supporting the midfield and not over committing. Crewe pressed Betley back and were rewarded with a goal that will cause the management team to review goalkicks. Gerrrarrd struck a hard goalkick out which struck Torress hard on the thigh, straight into a Crewe players path who neatly slotted home past a stranded keeper... 4-2. For a moment Crewe came back into the game and if it wasn't for the defensive strength of Rayna then maybe they would have got closer, but they didn't and Rayna did well.
The best goal of the game was saved till last and showed that if you don't give up that sometimes you are rewarded. The ball seemingly going nowhere deep in the Crewe half Torrress chased it down and tackled the ball off the defender close to the byline on the edge of the box, as the advancing keeper got closer Torres neatly cut round him to calmly stroke the teams 5th goal home and to round off a good all round team performance.
