At the Riverside last night the Alex academy tried but nothing went for them. At the start it was Crewe going full pelt with Kyle Wilson smashing over from 20 yards, then Nicky Maynard smashed a shot off the foot of post . It was, however, a rued miss as just a few minutes later on the 22nd minute Anthony Peakcock set up Tom Craddock to round a couple of defenders before firing home from 12 yards.
It was all but out for the youngsters as Maynard's second half thunderbolt was parried out by the Boro keeper, the North East youngsters dominated the rest of the second half leaving Crewe out at the Semi-Final.
It was a fantastic achievement for the youngsters and to be the best Nationwide team in the Youth Cup and to get into the semi's, making Crewe Alex history, is something to be proud of.
MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 CREWE ALEXANDRA (AGG: 3-0)
Middlesbrough: Knight; McMahon (C), Masters, Bates (Hines 78), Wheater, Kennedy, Liddle, Taylor, Craddock (Reed 79), Morrison, Peacock (Johnson 75). Unused subs: Pennock; Van Geele.
Crewe Alexandra: Fon Williams; Coo, Lloyd, Bond, Bignot, Kerr, Roberts (C), O’Connor, Wilson (Howard 73), Maynard, Carrington. Unused subs: Hogg, Holroyd, Warlow, White.
Referee: Mr LS Mason
Attendance: 2,531