|
A shock change to the team was David Vaughan being dropped to the bench to make way for Ben Rix. Hulse, as expected, was out for the match and inform Ashton took his place.
We were expecting more of a test than the one we got on Tuseday night and we got it. First 10 or so minutes were mainly Barrrrrrnsley trying to get forward. Pushing forward it looked like we were doing the same thing as we have done for the past few games... settle back, wear them down and then hit them with the passing game. That seemed to be the case as Crewe whethered the storm and got their game together. When Lunt's free kick crashed into the Barnsley wall and the Alex midfielder reacted quickly to lob the ball back to the far side of the box. And Foster rose to loop a header that forced Marriott back to tip over onto the roof of his net.
minutes gone and a foul on Jack down the right flank got a free-kick. About on level with the start of the penalty area and just by the byline - to be precise. The free kick was floated in and Stephen Foster was left unmarked to run in at the near post and nod down under the keeper.... 1-0!
The two linesmen were both 'flag happy', wqith Ashton & Jack being caught offside afew times but Bruce Dyer and Roey Fallon were caught offside everytime they went forward.
Barnsley had their chances, one when Dyer cut in down the right and unmarked he ran at Ince and from a tigh angle his shot went straight at Ince on the 20th minute. Lumsdon's long shot was too low and straight at Ince to trouble the Alex 25 minutes in. Barnsley might have thought they had taken the lead 30 minutes in when Dyrer picked up the ball inside the area unmarked but while Foz got in behind him while he had his back to goal he managed to turn and poke it into the bottom corner... but he was offside along time ago. When Dyer did beat the offside trap he wasted the chances, or just great defending. He broke free 5 minutes from the break but the pacy Tierney pushed him out wide on the right and forced the ball off for a goalkick.
Ashton tried a few long range shots a his confidence ouzed and Tierney showed he also can have a pop when he flicked it past Lumsdon to power a low shot at goal but it was just to near the keeper.
In the second half the Alex didn't seem to want to rap it up. The first chance though fell to Rix a few minutes in when a counter attack with Ashton charging at the defence, he squared itleft to a unmarked Rix in the box but instead of taking the shot he took a extra touch and was forced out wide. 55 minutes in the right again and again got through the Alex defence and his shot from 5 yards out was parried out by the ever so impressive Ince. Not so impressive at times though - on the resulting corner he flapped at a corner and the ball fell to a Barnsley shirt but his low hard shot was blocked by Fosters boot.
Barnsley could have equalised if it wasn't for our mate, the linesman. Dyer broke clear and with the bouncing high ball in the box Ince was beaten to it by Dyer who lobbed Ince but the linesman had his flag up agges ago - not only that but David Wright(Wright Wright) got back to volley off the line. While Barnsley pushed without any threat you always knew that one mistake from Walton or Foster would be quickly pounced upon by the tireless Dyer or Fallon, so we got another. Brammer smashed a long high ball up to Jack who turned and headed the ball on as he ran at goal. The keeper was way off his goal line and back peddeling all the way so when Jack got clear of all defenders and into the box he could cooly slot away into the bottom right corner.
Ashton nearly extended our lead when a 35 yard power drive skimmed the bar and onto the top of the net.
Full Time : Crewe 2-0 Barnsley
Extended our unbeaten run to 8 and have won 7 of those, only drawing against Bristol City. We're looking confident in our passing and we're taking our chances as we had few clear cut ones on Saturday yet won by a convincing scoreline. With Swindon and Cheltenham next they are a must win as we have now joined the runaway pack. Being 1 point behind 4th place Oldham and 6 points ahead of 6th place Brentford. If we were to beat Swindon and Cheltenham we could be looking at 3rd or 2nd with Cardiff having Luton and Colchester they could easily slip up against Luton. Oldham have a good chance of being denied points at Chesterfield on Saturday while against Luton could hualt the Bristol CIty bandwagon on Saturday. After Cheltenham and Swindon we have a visit from Oldham which could see us pull away from them after their not very impressive form of late and then Mansfield should be a win going by the past.
Thats 12 points for the taking and could see us in 2nd or 3rd, this is not unrealistic - go and work it out for yourself!