Connections To Crewe

Crewe Alexandra U18 1 v Sheffield United U18 1
U18 Professional Development League

Played at Alexandra Park (Crewe Academy)

Wednesday 11 April 2018

SUFC 2017/18 Game 81

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The pre match drink was in Beerdock, Nantwich. I've been in their Crewe outlet. (Which is v handy for Gresty Rd). A very similar, and very welcoming, set up in Nantwich. Shop front arrangement. Two banks of trestle tables & benches running from front to back. The walls covered by bottle & can shelves & fridges. Ten keg lines on the back wall. Beers chalked up on a blackboard.

Is someone grassing me up? “He's mobile, whack a roughly 9% DIPA/IIPA on”. Today's was;
West By Three, Double IPA on keg at 8.8%.

I'm thinking of giving a prize to the next slightly opaque, brown or tan, giving off a rich Hoppy smell DIPA I get served. This weren't it. Impenetrable, yellow/gold, tropical fruits on the nose. Very good despite. Initially dry in the mouth. It did develop into swirling fruit. Maybe pineapple, but not oversweet. It was lovely & rich & thick & chewy.

The Young Blades did well to come out of that with a point. Crewe shaded it for me. And, they had a few short spells where they were dominant. For some reason, they caused us tremendous problems from corners. Time after time. I think it was as simple as they'd got a lad who could deliver a delicious dead ball. You must have heard me say it before, Jordan Hallam (currently out on loan) delivers a devastating dead ball. It's one of the reasons I think he might make it, somewhere. AnyRoadUp, Crewe got just such a fella.

No teamsheets. If you're reading this Lads (unlikely, average Blog readership now 7) sorry if it's mistaken identity. That looked like the alleged Trialist from Arsenal Jay Beckley or Beckford. I gave him reviews after the U23 at Watford. He didn't look as impressive here. Mad isn't it? V Young Kid impresses at 23, but looks ordinary at 18. I think it's simply - you play better with better players.

He only lasted until HT. When he was subbed by Ange Capello. They did look lively with him playing right midfield, link up, get forward. He created a good chance on 57, when he slipped in George Broadbent. But, his effort was pushed wide. And, in a neat piece of write your own script, Capello bagged the equaliser on 75 minutes. A mazy crossfield dribble, with the ball attached to his feet. And, an accurate left foot finish. Utd came strongly into the game for those last 15 mins. We had a few chances, although nothing absolutely clear cut.

That nicely bookended Crewe being on top. As United had started brightly and hit the post after just two minutes.

I thought Reon Potts had a tough time of it. In the first half, he was essentially up top. He just couldn't get in the game. He was better in a more withdrawn role in the second half.

Crewe scored after 30mins. The young 'un has rifled one in from the edge of the box. A disappointing goal to concede, as we had a number of chances to get it under control & clear it. Ten minutes later, Alex had a great chance to make it two nil. Utd somehow managed to scramble the ball over the bar.

As is often the case at U18 Ball, we came & went at times. Often just sitting too deep & letting Crewe play. But, in spells, playing a high tempo pressing game, which made it much trickier for Crewe.

I've got it as
1 Sam Kelly
2 Tom Williams
3 Harry Boyes
4 Harrison Neal (Capt)
5 Tom Weaver
6 Ky Gordon
7 Jay Beckley/Beckford (Angelo Capello 45)
8 George Broadbent
9 Reon Potts
10 Jake Kelly
11 Sammy Ompreon (Ryan Viggars 78)

Could be wrong ...

641/1331