Unusually Whaley got off to the better start of the two teams and were very disappointed to come in at half time only one nil up when the game could well have been over in the first 25 minutes. Whaley knocked the ball about well from defence having switched back to 4:4:2 and were a big threat in the early stages.

Sutton missed a great opportunity from a Barlow corner, Scorer came close on several occasions forcing a great save by Newton from close range and a shot that glanced the cross bar; Jack Gregory shooting from the edge of the box saw his shot finger tipped just round the post by a very busy Wes Newton; Morris couldn’t quite get on the end of a Scorer cross; Joe Burgess went through twice with only the keeper to beat but shot wide and had the other saved, however it was Burgess who eventually broke the deadlock as he headed a Morris cross back across goal with Scorer following in just in case. Though the visitors were well on top Crewe reminded Whaley that one nil wasn’t a winning score line as in the last 10 minutes their number 6 Jack Gater headed just over and Jones had his shot smothered by Tattersall.

Crewe came out the faster & stronger as they applied pressure early on creating several corners, Gater should have done better with a free header which he put over the bar. Whaley struggled to cope with the aerial threat from Crewe as highlighted after only ten minutes of the second half; a corner wasn’t cleared first time giving Crewe the another chance to deliver a telling cross which was again only cleared to Callum Jones on the edge of the box but his shot was parried by Tattersall. Danny Lavallette was first to react smashing the ball in from close range.

Whaley were clearly rocking and knew ‘this’ week’s back four of Joe Williamson, Sutton, Streets and Broome would have to do a lot of work to withstand yet more Crewe pressure. But they didn’t panic, Barlow put a couple of dangerous crosses into Crewe’s six yard box but the ball just wouldn’t drop kindly for the Bridge and somehow bounced to safety. Whaley were pushed back on to the edge of their box for long periods of the second half but with Crewe over committed broke down the right with Scorer and Morris out witting Crewe’s defence; Scorer crossing for Burgess who’s shot was deflected only for Tom to react first to score from close range as he collided with the post.

Whaley could have secured all three points straight after that goal as Scorer rounded his marker and pulled the ball back to Morris but with only the keeper to beat he delayed shooting allowing Newton a chance to block. Then in the dying minutes Crewe’s Southern, who is on 99 goals for Crewe, hit a half volley which looked like it was heading in only for Tattersall to get a strong arm to deflect the ball wide. Crewe will be disappointed not to get something out of the game but although Whaley’s management gave Callum Jones the man of the match they have Wes Newton to thank for keeping them in the game on more than several occasions.

J Tattersall J Williamson B Sutton T Streets J Broome J Burgess (1) W Bailey (85) Adam Barlow (60) J Gregory L Morris T Scorer (1)

M Roberts (85) J Bailey (60)