Crewe Alexandra 1 Ipswich 0 (16/8/03) Nationwide Division 1
Eight minutes of this tense home clash had passed when the lively Darren Bent struck a sweet volley from almost nowhere, but Ince's instinctive right-handed save as it was about to crash into the goal defied belief.
Following Kenny Lunt's swerving free-kick that made it 1-0, Marcus Bent had a glorious opportunity to level it when his namesake Darren found him unmarked, ten yards out with the goal at his mercy. He smashed it low, but Ince's dramatic point blank stop, kept the points intact.
After denying Darren Bent's 20-yard effort, Ince found himself one on one with Pablo Counago. Ince was more than equal to his rasping drive that was low to his left, winning us the match, our first of the season.
Crewe Alexandra 1 Liverpool 1 (19/8/03) Pre Season Friendly
Ince's performances over the pre season were right up there with his best, including against Liverpool in mid-August. His acrobatic, full stretch tip-over from a dipping John Arne Riise free kick after only one minute set the benchmark for the day.
His superb close range save from Michael Owen after he cheekily beat Steve Foster was followed by an excellent reflex save from Sami Hyypia's glancing header.
The one mistake he made was when he misjudged a corner and Owen sneaked in at the back post following David Wright's unsuccessful clearance.
Throughout the second half, he denied Liverpool's expensive attacking players, such as Pongolle, Le Tallec, Owen, Heskey and Smicer. He got praise from both Dario Gradi and Gerard Houllier after the game, and deservedly won man of the match.
Crewe Alexandra 2 Everton 0 (22/8/03) Pre Season Friendly
Ince's star man performance against Liverpool continued against Everton. Wayne Rooney gave the Trinidad international food for thought with a rocket like drive from ten yards, which was solidly beaten away via Clayton's low right hand.
Rooney's 25 yard screamer was parried away with a sense of arrogance by the Alex number one, and his point blank stop two minutes later from a one-on-one with the seventeen year old told the on looking fans it was yet again going to be his day.
Peterborough 0 Crewe Alexandra 0 (14/9/02) Nationwide Division 2
A 0-0 draw at London Road could have been much worse for Crewe if not for Clayton Ince's heroics. He frustrated Posh's attackers continually to keep Crewe's impressive away record rosy.
Firstly, following his own mistake (a miss-hit clearance) Ince tipped Helgi Danielsson’s chip over the bar. The Alex uncharacteristically found themselves under the cosh for long periods in this game, and after denying Gareth Jelleyman and Andy Edwards respectively, Green missed the chance of the game when put through on the keeper, who instinctively got out to smother the ball.
Andy Clarke’s last gasp speculative drive was well pushed over by Ince who was defiant in giving nothing away to Barry Fry’s men.
Everton 0 Crewe Alexandra 0 (17/2/02) FA Cup 5th Round
After the embarrassment of losing 6-1 at home to Coventry City, Crewe faced a tough trip away to Everton in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Ince had sat the majority of the season on the bench with George Bankole in favour with Dario Gradi. However, following the sixth goal, Ince replaced the comical Nigerian with 20 minutes still on the clock. He kept his place for the cup game, and had to perform with the eyes of the nation on him, courtesy of the BBC.
Clayton’s characteristic Caribbean calmness, however settled the Crewe ship, as he effortlessly rose to cleanly collect every single ball that came anywhere near him. His arrogant (?) mind games, teasing the opposing strikers by waiting for him to come within an arms length before picking the ball up were cheered by the 7,000 Alex fans who made the short trip up to Merseyside. He rubbed salt in the rapidly stinging wounds of Walter Smith who could only watch his side be frustrated by stubborn defending and assured goalkeeping.
Ince did not have to make a worthy save; a couple of short back passes were the only hint of danger that Clayton had to face. This game made Clayton Ince, and brought him to prominence after years of wilderness at Gresty Road.
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