Crewe Alexandra - 2(Tait 12. MacAuley 34.)
Crystal Palace - 0

Palace entered this match having been undefeated for the past four matches, whilst Crewe boasted an unenviable record of not having won at home for the past two months. Considering our record of late of spoiling all good runs we managed to break both of these records on a day that was considered overall a poor show.

Palace certainly had their chances in this match, though they did not make the most of them, and in fairness Crewe were well in control of the match before we looked like making a Lazarus type comeback.

Matthias Svensson pushed his header across goal when he really should have gone for goal himself, and then Hayden Mullins saw his 25 yard effort come to naught. By contrast Crewe made the most of their efforts.

Paul Tait managed to get past Andrew Frampton and Andy Linighan, and noting that Fraser Digby had come off his line he lobbed the ball over his head into an empty goal. A free kick saw Steve MacAuley rifle home a long range effort, and the home side's lead was doubled.

Richard Harris then made a good advance on goal, but he was stopped in his tracks by a good tackle from David Wright. A trademark long throw from Harris nearly caught the defence off guard when Andrew Frampton got to the ball, but his shot was deflected wide. Matthias Svensson then got above the defence but his shot hit Andrew Martin and went wide of the mark.

A close effort from a cross by Nick Rizzo saw Matthias come desperately close, but the linesman had already signalled the ball out of play. A great save by Jason Kearton denied Matthias once again, and time was getting desperately close to the end.

Crewe came very close to pinching a third just before the end when Kevin Street brought out the best in Fraser, a reflex save coming between him and goal. Mark Rivers followed up the shot, but hit the keeper, and Tait missed the open goal from just in front when he tumbled over trying to latch on to the loose ball.

Another away game was over, and Steve Coppell will really have to find some way of converting our home form to our travels away, or we will be back looking at the relegation zone once again.

Colin Pryce

Crewe Alexandra: Jason Kearton, Marcus Bignot, David Wright, Steve MacAuley, Shaun Smith, Kenny Lunt, Neil Sorvel, Jamie Collins (Kevin Street 83), Colin Little, Paul Tait, Mark Rivers.

Substitutes not used: Colin Cramb, Stephen Wright, Lee Unsworth, Kevin Welsby.

Crystal Palace: Fraser Digby, Dean Austin, Andy Linighan, Fan Zhiyi, Andrew Frampton, Andrew Martin (Nick Rizzo 72), Hayden Mullins, Craig Foster, Simon Rodger, Matthias Svensson, Steve Kabba (Richard Harris 39).

Substitutes not used: Steve Mauton, David Woozley, Chris Sharpling.

Attendance: 4,923

Referee: Mr D Laws (Whiteley Bay).