Crewe Alexandra - 2 (Ashton 47. Lunt 73.)
Crystal Palace - 3 (Johnson 30. 36. 56.)

We started this game in 7th place, and remained there due to the other results on the weekend. We did, however, manage to get to within two points of the 3rd placed team, and with two games to go for the League season we now find that we can make certain of a playoff position if we win both these games. The reason for the certainty is that West Ham and Wigan meet on the last day of the season, and somewhat obviously they cannot both win. Whether or not our luck can hold and we can maintain our current run remains to be seen, but even if we don't make it the recent record of five wins and a draw from the last six games makes pretty impressive reading.

This match got underway, and following a free kick awarded to Crewe for a foul on Dean Ashton by Mikele Leigertwood, Ashton tried a shot on goal, but Danny Butterfield got in the way, and diverted the ball from the goalmouth. Fouls by Danny Granville on Steve Jones and David Brammer on Wayne Routledge followed, but ours was closest to goal and Shaun Derry fired in the free kick, the chance being saved by Ben Williams in the Crewe goal. More fouls, and thus free kicks followed from both sides, but none led to any goalmouth action, and as the 10-minute mark approached Wayne fired in a cross that led, eventually to a corner. Shaun fired the ball in towards the goal, but this time it was Brammer who was on hand to avert the danger.

Wayne tried another cross into the centre, but Adie Moses cleared this one, and then Julian Gray fired in a shot that was well held by the keeper. Neil Shipperley tried his luck, the result being the same as the keeper held on to the ball, before Wayne attempted a shot but David Wright got in the way of this chance. Danny G fouled Jones, but this must have been one too many for referee Mr Hill, as he issued his first caution for the day, citing unsporting behaviour, but the free kick was wasted, and play went on. Another free kick to Crewe saw Ashton get his head to the ball, but his attempt flew wide of the post, and Nico Vaesen was left with the simple task of taking a goal kick. Play then bogged down for a while before Andrew Johnson tried a shot that also went wide of the target.

The half-hour mark though suddenly saw our luck turn, and as a long ball was pumped forward AJ ran on to it and simply belted a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net. 1-0 up, and we were on our way. Ashton tried a quick response, but his effort went over the top of the bar, and then Palace won a corner that was well cleared by Ashton, who seemed to be at all ends of the park.

Twice the ball was played into the area, and twice the Crewe defence cleared the danger, but the third time proved lucky as Danny G sent in a cross that AJ met once more, this time with his right foot, and the ball flew into the back of the net to double our advantage. David Vaughan sent the ball back into our area, but this time Tony Popovic was on hand to clear the danger.

Yet another free kick to Crewe saw Kenny Lunt send in a cross, though Mikele was in the right place to avert the danger, and shortly after Julian was caught offside. Brammer sent in a cross that was well held by Nico before David Wright tried the same tactic, with the same result. With only a few minutes of time added on the half came to a tame end, and the sides went off, with Palace, presumably, thinking they had done about enough to take home all three points already.

Hopefully Iain Dowie warned them during the break not to relax their grip, but obviously they did not listen too well.

Within two minutes of the restart Crewe had pulled a goal back as Ashton got on the end of a cross and chipped the ball straight at Nico. One cannot really be sure if it was just a bad bounce, but as our keeper seemed to have the ball well covered it somehow evaded him and dribbled into the back of the net, and the score now read 1-2. Julian then tried a shot that the keeper just managed to keep out with his feet, and a free kick at the other end saw Nico save well from an attempt sent in by Lunt.

Danny G tried to get the ball back into the area, but Neil Sorvel cleared the chance, so he had another go, and this time the keeper held on to the ball. Brammer had a shot that went wide of the mark, and their keeper played a poor ball out that AJ got hold of, and as he raced clear on goal once again Stephen Foster tripped him, resulting in a booking for the Crewe man, and a penalty to Palace. AJ stepped up to take it, and duly completed his second hat trick of the season, to add to the two he got last term.

Finally, we were looking somewhat comfortable, having re-established our two-goal lead.

Vaughan was caught offside before a corner to Palace saw Shaun fire the ball in, but the defence cleared the opportunity once more. Ashton won a corner at the other end, but as Lunt sent the ball into the area Aki Riihilahti cleared the danger once more for Palace. Wayne sent the ball back in, but Foster cleared it this time and then Vaughan tried another shot that went wide of the left-hand post.

Both sides decided it was time to make a substitution, and Michael Higdon came on for Vaughan as Dougie Freedman replaced Neil. Of course, Palace never ever do things the easy way though, and as the ball bounced around in our danger area we finally got a clearance, but only as far as Brammer. He sent the ball back in once again, and a header by Lunt at the near post saw our lead reduced to one goal once more, as the ball eluded Nico and nestled in the back of the net. Shaun then attempted a shot that went wide of the post and Dougie saw his shot sail over the top of the bar.

Dougie tried again, this time missing to the right of the upright before a corner to Crewe was well cut out by the Palace defence. Lunt tried to get the ball back into our area, but Julian cleared the chance, and as Crewe piled on the pressure the Palace defence stood resolute. The home side wasted a series of corners before Julian hit a shot wide of the mark, and Crewe made another change to their lineup, this time taking off Jones and bringing on Craig Hignett.

Foster cleared a Palace corner, and Danny G tried a shot that also sailed over the bar, and Aki tried a header from a Palace corner that narrowly missed the woodwork. Dougie was caught offside as Crewe made their final change of the afternoon, this time taking off Chris McCready in favour of Billy Jones. Lunt was booked for a foul on Nico, and as time was up Palace made a change to the side, bringing on Tommy Black in place of Julian.

Three minutes was added on, but for some reason it took nearly a further five minutes for the final whistle to blow. Hignett tried a shot that was well stopped by Nico, and AJ was caught offside, resulting in a free kick to the home side. Ashton had the final shot of the match, but Nico held on quite easily to the ball, and finally the whistle went to signify another three points in our quest for that elusive playoff place.

It is now back to Selhurst for a match against relegation threatened Walsall. The matches never get any easier, do they?

Colin Pryce

Crewe Alexandra: Ben Williams, David Wright, Adie Moses, Stephen Foster, Chris McCready (Billy Jones 85), Kenny Lunt, Neil Sorvel, David Brammer, David Vaughan (Michael Higdon 71), Steve Jones (Craig Hignett 81), Dean Ashton.

Substitutes not used: Ademole Bankole, Justin Cochrane.

Crystal Palace: Nico Vaesen, Danny Granville, Danny Butterfield, Tony Popovic, Mikele Leigertwood, Wayne Routledge, Aki Riihilahti, Shaun Derry, Julian Gray (Tommy Black 90), Andrew Johnson, Neil Shipperley (Dougie Freedman 71).

Substitutes not used: Cedric Berthelin, Kit Symons, Ben Watson.

Attendance: 8,136

Referee: Mr K Hill