Starting XI
Williams
Otsemobor
B Jones
Cox
Baudet
Lowe
Grant
G Roberts
Vaughan
Higdon (Suhaj)
Rodgers
On a nice summers evening by the seaside it took Crewe 7 minutes to take the lead, some nice play from the Railwaymen saw Luke Rodgers break free and attempted to go around the keeper.
Southport's keeper decided to up end Rodgers and the ref pointed to the spot and the goalie picked up a yellow card. Rodgers stepped up to slot home his second penalty this week. The Alex only held onto the lead for seven minutes before Kevin Lee made ot 1-1 after flat footing the experianced back four.
Live wire Luke Rodgers nearly got Crewe back in the lead with a shot that just went over the bar, Crewe had a few more chances but could not convert or found the Southport keeper in fine form.
Just before the stroke of halftime the curse of ankle injuries struck again, Higdon suffered this time by landing funny on his ankle. Suhaj replaced The Don but the Slovakian found himself replaced at half time as Dario made major changes.
Second Half XI
Williams
Moss
Bignot
Sutton
M Roberts
Varney
Bell (Carrington)
Rix
Lloyd
Savage (Suhaj)
Maynard
More or less from the start Crewe applied early pressue and nearly scored through Maynard but it was Soutport that who took the lead on hour mark a mix up with Bignot and Williams let Southport James Olsen in who finished off nicely to make it 2-1 for the Sandgrounders. Yet Crewe came back and applied pressure on the Southport goal but lacklustre finishing was letting Crewe down.
Crewe picked up another injury with Lee Bell limping off after a late tackle, he was replaced by Mark Carrington. As Crewe pressed for an equaliser and from a medicore display from Bas Savage, Dario brought on Suhaj again to replace Savage in what could have been his last game for the club.
Then Crewe got the equaliser they deserved, a corner crossed in from Rix was met by the head of young centre half Ritchie Sutton to place a stong header past the Southport keeper.
The Railwaymen pressed forward for a winning goal but yet again wasted chances and the odd save from the keeper kept the score at 2-2 when the final whistle was blown.
Around a hundred Crewe supporter made the journey and will no doubt that the Alex can only get stronger as they gear up for the fourth coming season.