ShrewsTRUST Man of the Match
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Town: Steve Phillips, Dean Holden, Graham Coughlan (c), Kelvin Langmead, Dave Hibbert, Jake Robinson (Nathan Elder 78), Paul Murray (Steve Leslie 78), Jake Simpson (Gray, 65), Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Joss Labadie, Kevin McIntyre
Subs: Nathan Elder, Kris Bright, Steve Leslie, Harry Hooman, Andre Gray, Andreas Arestidou
Goals: Hibbert 28, Labadie 69
Crewe Alex: David Button, John Brayford, Billy Jones (c), Steve Schumacher (Elding, 77), Patrick Ada, Calvin Zola, Joel Grant, Byron Moore, Ama Verma (Miller, 72), Harry Worley, Simon Walton
Subs: Steve Collis, Anthony Elding, Shaun Miller, Luke Murphy, Ashley Westwood, Ajay Leitch-Smith, Harry Davis
Attendance: 6,204 (1,172 away)
Referee: SD Cook
Assistant Referee (yellow): M Bristow
Assistant Referee (plain): P Norris
Fourth Official: TP Bankes
Martin Wild reports from the Prostar
Town make two changes to the side that lost against Bradford City last week, with Jake Robinson and Kevin McIntyre coming into the starting line-up in place of Steve Leslie and Nathan Elder, who both drop to the bench.
The ground was bathed in late summer sunshine, and with a healthy contingent of predominantly shirt-sleeved visiting supporters away to our right, the scene was set for a rip-roaring local derby.
The Railwaymen got the game under way defending the end populated by their own fans, and both sides mounted early attacks in an enterprising opening few minutes.
Crewe have taken little time in adjusting to their new league status, having been relegated in 22nd place last season. Four wins from their opening six fixtures already has them in amongst the early season pace-setters.
After fifteen minutes the Cheshire club should have opened the scoring. John Brayford's pinpoint delivery from the right fell invitingly for top scorer Calvin Zola, but instead of finding the corner of the net, his header flashed wide of the post. There was plenty of power in the effort and had the direction been a yard the other side, Town would have been in real trouble.
Midway though the half and the home team had another close shave. Some uncertainty at the heart of the home defence opened the door for Joel Grant. Grant shifted his feet quickly and powered in a close range effort that was instinctively turned over by a smart reflex save by Steve Phillips.
It was the first attempt on target but make no mistake about it, the best opportunities had fallen to the team in red. A week ago it was Shrewsbury who had much of the game, but they failed to convert many of them and ended up shipping the points. Maybe there was going to be some role-reversal this afternoon?
Right on cue, Town scored. From their third corner of the afternoon it looked like the danger had been cleared, but Kelvin Langmead managed to keep the ball moving out to skipper Graham Coughlan. His low cross was swept home by Dave Hibbert from close range to give Simpson's men the advantage with 28 minutes on the clock.
Okay; the goal was against the run of play, but no-one whose allegiance lay firmly with the Shropshire club would be complaining too loudly about that! Crewe had shown their quality but if the team were able to keep their first clean sheet of the season, then victory would be assured.
And what more can be said about Hibbert that hasn't been said already? The striker is certainly relishing his new found fan adulation, since the departure of top scorer Grant Holt at the end of July. He has six goals to his credit already this season - with a goal in each of his last three appearances.
The crowd was announced as 6,204 - with almost 1200 Crewe supporters having made the hour long journey for their club's first ever appearance at the Prostar.
Steve Schumacher went fairly close five minutes before the break but Phillips had the long range drive well covered, and the ball drifted harmlessly wide in any event.
Half-Time: 1-0
Right at the beginning of the second half, Shrews should have doubled their lead. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff threw long and McIntyre's sand wedge of a cross was met by Robinson inside the six-yard box. Unfortunately, the recalled striker was leaning back and as a result his cushioned half-volley flew comfortably over.
Three times in the last two home games the frame of the goal has shuddered at the South Stand end of the stadium, denying Messrs. Robinson, Langmead and Hibbert of goals. Latest to add to the file marked 'unlucky' was Coughlan, whose towering header smacked the left hand upright in a really busy spell of attacking football from the hosts in the first five minutes of the half.
Alex responded well enough and only a superb block from Langmead denied Zola what appeared to be a certain equaliser. The game was certainly in the melting pot with Crewe needing to be more adventurous the longer the game went on. There was no need to panic at this stage, however, with more than 35 minutes remaining.
Grant should have done better when a lightning counter looked on as a Town corner came to nothing, but his first touch was way too heavy and a grateful Cansdell-Sherriff managed to hoof the ball back from whence it came.
Crewe's best moment came after 64 minutes. Ama Verma's precision strike from 25 yards was superbly pushed round the post by Phillips, to earn deserved applause from all sides of the ground.
Salop made a change immediately afterwards with Jake Simpson replaced by Andre Gray - fresh from his goalscoring exploits for the reserves at West Bromwich on Monday evening.
Alex were still seeing plenty of the football and looked dangerous going forward, but it was the home side who stretched their lead just past the midway point of the half. It came as a result of their best passage of play in the match, with a five-man move ending in Joss Labadie finding the bottom corner of David Button's goal with a precision drive from well outside the box.
Seconds later and Labadie was at it again. This time his angled left footer - again from distance - flashed a matter of inches past the far post with Button well beaten.
The home crowd were now in full voice, but a goal for Alex could change the whole complexion of the match. Some assured handling from Phillips took the pressure off his defenders when a dangerous cross asked questions of the back four again.
Town were almost playing on the break and another trademark Hibbert volley tested Button once more, but the Tottenham loanee pulled off a tremendous stop low to his right.
With just under 10 minutes remaining on the clock Paul Simpson made a double substitution with Nathan Elder coming on to replace Jake Robinson and Steve Leslie on to replace Paul Murray.
Crewe were still pushing and this was making it an end to end finish with good chances dropping for both sides, Town had a great chance when a Leslie ball down the line found Elder in on goal, he cut across to get the ball onto his right but this just gave the Crewe defence the chance to nick in and clear the ball downfield, this created a chance for Joel Grant but luckily for Town he blasted wide after being clean through on goal.
Town were looking to add to their lead and were playing some good football to stretch the visitors.Steve Leslie came in from the wing and looked for the angle, he pushed the ball wide to Andre Gray who clipped in an inviting ball that Labadie meet at the nearpost but maybe he should left it for Elder and Hibbert who were lurking in the 6 yard box.
Full-time: 2-0
