Port Vale 0-2 Crewe Alex - Report Online

Last updated : 11 September 2002 By Site Staff

Where's your Brammer gone?

It was acutally Port Vale who got the first chances as Mcphee was obviously going to be a major threat in front of goal. The first of the chances came 5 minutes in when Bridge Wilkinson volleyed the ball from the edge of the area and was inches(if that) wide of the top corner after it took a worrying curl at the net. Sodje had the unlucky job of marking Stephen McPhee - last years fastest player in Div 2 - and Sodje rose to the challanging, rarely out runninf him but always caught up and stopped any further play by McPhee. Vaughan also helped out and once more knew how to outwit them at the corner flag, but that wasn't all he did. The 19 year old Welsh international terrified the Vale defence as he ran with the ball from left back. Another player to terrorise the defence was obviously Rodney Jack, a player Vale couldn't handle with his speed and skill.

Crewe were yet to find their feet and it looked likley we were about to make a defensive mistake. As we'v said - Mcphee was the danger man - and on the 10th minute it showed as he slipped unmarked into the area from the left but a great reaction from Ince saw Mcphee with an on rushing keeper who managed to slide in and kick away the ball while Mcphee lined up a shot.
Then with no other real effort Crewe found themselfs infront. Vaughan ran at the defence until he got into the area where he manager to slide it back to Jack who was 5 yards out of the area who smacked it low into the bottom corner. 1-0 and the 800+ Crewe fans errupted after outsinging the 10 or so Vale fans to the left of us.

As the Crewe fans celebrated the players knew Vale would start attacking more - they didn't and Crewe doubled their lead from a superb goal. Inside the Crewe half Miles - who looked promising all night - slid it to Vaughan who ran like mad at the Vale defence until he was aout 30 yards out where he slid it to Jack who had an easy job of just sliding it past Goodlad in the goal. Port Vale thought it was offside and spent 5 minutes argueing it - sour grapes me thinks.

Arguements were going on with players on the field aswell, well Port Vale Vs Brammer. It was obvious Brammer nolonger had friends at Vale as he slid in and couldn't care if he took the players feet with the ball, he was also determined to get the Alex forward knocking long acurate balls forward.

Crewe had just slipped into cruise control and playing good passing football. The next chance for the Alex came when debutant McCready knocked the ball just wide of Goodlads post. Just before half time Jakc had another brilliant chance from a Lunt. However his low head went just a few yards over the bar.

At half-time the red and black beach ball did it's rounds round the away end once again. In the second half it was vale again starting the strongest. Balls were going being crossed into the area nmon-stop from Vale but Crewe survived.the pressure due to Vale having Crewe's problem - failing to finish chances.

Crewe started to get a grip again and when we got the ball we rarley pushed

Goalden Moment

forward, instead passing it and every so often knocking it over the defenders for Jack to run on to but Goodlad had sussed it out straight away and alot of the times manager to clear before Jack got it.The first chance of the second half was when Vale crossed it into the box and due to the restricted view the away fans had all we could see was the ball going into a crowd of players in the 8 yard area and coming out of the other end. Crewe's first proper chance fell to Sorvel who picked it up just inside the area and tried chipping into the top far corner but failed and it went out for a goal kick. Then due to poor refferring Mcphee and Vale were denied a golden oppitunity when the ball was knocked to an unmarked Mcphee who we believe was clearly on side was flagged off side - it result in a Vale fan being chucked out for throwing a pair of glasses at the linesman.
After that the Alex ran the show with a cheer for every pass and when vale did attack the brilliant partnetship of Walker and Sodje in defence managed to push them back.

Jack could have had an hat-trik if his reaction was quick when Sorvel slid in a perfect and clever ball into the box - just infront of Jack and Goodlad in goal - but Goodlad reacted first and Jack missed his chance.
The match ended, Brammer punched the air with delight and the Alex players went and thanked the 850 Alex fans who never shut up all the way through the match.

Bring on Posh boys.