Strike Zero

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 01/04/2025

IT'S the time of the season where supporters of teams which are not in mid-table spend more time scrutinising the results and studying the tables. Arguably, Port Vale's win on Saturday at tonight's opponents Crewe didn't do Town any favours in our unlikely quest for automatic promotion.

And certainly the results of the other teams above us suggest that automatic promotion may be a step too far. But none of this detracts from our highly professional performance and victory at Colchester and the points gap we created from our nearest rivals for a play-off place. The most encouraging aspect is our ability to stick in there and manage a game. We're light years ahead of last season, and where last year we had just one realistic candidate for Player of the Year, this year I can think of at least three candidates. Tonight's game at Crewe was another where we needed to come away with something to maintain the momentum.

As a railway hub, Crewe is an easy place to get to but not so easy to get back when it's an evening game. But Town's supporters were once again out there in good numbers and in good voice. It was a pleasant evening in Crewe, and it's not often that you say that. Town, in traditional black and white this evening, lined up: Wright – Rodgers, Tharme, Warren – Svanthorsson, McEachren, Green, Khouri, Hume - Barrington, Luker. The absence of Danny Rose following a head injury last Friday was obviously a setback, so we were reliant on Luca and Luker with the support of our creative and hard-working group of midfielders.

With the exception of cultured touches from Svanthorsson's and Luker, the opening phase was kick and rush. A poor pass from Tharme to Warren led to a Crewe freekick which Lowry sent straight to Wright. Bogle, yes that one, misplaced a pass as Crewe mounted an attack. Svanthorsson ran more than half the length of the pitch but Town were unable to capitalise. On 9 minutes a Wright clearance led to a knockdown for Svanthorsson whose shot had power but was aimed at Crewe keeper Marschall. Three minutes later Town had the same play with the same outcome. This was after Lankester had a dubious appeal for a penalty. On 13 minutes Crewe won a throw deep in Town's half. Coney sent in a long throw. The ball was headed around but not cleared. Demetrius found Long who was unmarked 6 yards out and couldn't miss. Crewe 1, Town 0. On 17 minutes McEachren made a great interception and burst forward but Svanthorsson's touch was awful. Svanthorsson was guilty again moments later when he created space but shot aimlessly. Town won a corner on 20 minutes after a subtle cross from Green. Hume's cross was gathered under pressure by Marschall. Good work by McEachren gave Green the chance to cross but it was wasted. Without a recognised striker, Town looked all at sea in the final third. Barrington and Luker seemed to be playing as midfielders. Both the formation and quality were inadequate. Crewe almost scored a second in the 25th minute when the ball flashed across Town's goal. Successful work to keep out Bogle gave Town the chance to break. Luker ran clear from the halfway line with a deft turn but Demetriou pulled him back and earned himself a yellow card as Town outnumbered the Crewe defence. Wright did well to save a low shot from Lankester on 35 minutes after a crunching tackle on Khouri. Hume won a corner after a poor cross from Svanthorsson bypassed everyone and highlighted our lack of striker in the box. Following the corner Luker looked to find space in the packed Crewe defence but lost possession and was booked for a tackle on Lankester. A long throw from Cooney was headed on and Long's shot on the turn went just over. A mistake by Long led to a Town breakout but Svanthorsson, who looked off the pace tonight, lost control. Town broke again on 43 minutes. Demetriou was lucky not to get a second yellow card after bowling over Svanthorsson who looked to run outside. It was all too comfortable for Crewe. Town's play looked desperate. Crewe were adequate, pedestrian even, but it was Town who lacked influence, looking weak and exposed in the absence of Rose or any dedicated striker. Defensively we looked ragged with Tharme in particular struggling, but to our credit former Town striker Bogle had been ineffective. So at half time it was 1 - 0 to Crewe. Mr Artell was going to have to a rethink to improve our performance in the second half.

On 47 minutes Lankester burst forward from his own half into Town's penalty area before falling over. While Lankester appealed in vain for a penalty, Town's defence switched off and Conway struck a fierce shot from the left edge of the area. Wright made a good save to his left. Town worked the ball up to the other end, and Khouri slid in, only to be foiled by Cooney. On 52 minutes Warren was fouled by Bogle. Marschall missed Hume's cross but retrieved the situation by gathering Luker's low header. On 54 minutes a Lankester shot was blocked and Town broke. Barrington, Luker and Green combined. Green teed up the onrushing Svanthorsson whose shot struck the side netting. On 56 minutes after a mistake by Tharme, McEachren received a yellow card for contact with Long who made a meal of it. Town broke out quickly on 57 minutes. Green found Khouri who was hacked down by Cooney, earning the Crewe defender a yellow card. Barrington's freekick was blocked, and Town were unable to penetrate the defence. Thompson and McJannet replaced McEachren and Warren on 59 minutes. Three minutes later, a Cooney throw was returned. Cooney approached the box. The ball bounced. Khouri went for it and Cooney went down as if he was kicked in the face. The referee awarded an indirect free kick in the box, suggesting it was obstruction. The ball went out for another long throw from the left. As the ball came in a heap of players fell over and it looked like Long pushed the ball home, beating Svanthorsson to it. The referee looked to award a goal but the linesman had spotted an infringement. After a prolonged discussion, the referee disallowed the goal and awarded a free kick to Town. Crewe then won a corner which resulted in a wild shot from Lankester who had a better one a few moments later, forcing a low save from Wright. Davies replaced Luker on 70 minutes. Town put together a sweeping attack moments later but Hume's final ball was poor and went straight to Marschall. The game stopped on 74 minutes for attention to Tharme who was hit in the face. After a drop ball, a cross came in which McJannet headed out to Lankester whose curled shot just missed. Khouri did well on 78 minutes to find space and locate Barrington who with the defence closing in, cut outside and shot diagonally but wide to the right with Marschall in possession to make a save. After yet another long throw from Cooney, Green seized the opportunity to win possession but failed to control the ball, running it out unchallenged. Burns replaced Barrington on 81 minutes. Neither side now seemed able to impose themselves. The pattern was that Crewe were attacking with Town relying on breaks, yet unable to control the ball when they had them. Town didn't seem to be able to create anything. Burns was tripped when going forward on 86 minutes. Hume's cross was headed clear by Bogle before Town won another freekick on the right. Hume's cross found Tharme's head. A cross came in from the left but Davies was penalised for fouling Marschall. The game stopped on 89 minutes as Cooney went down with a genuine dead leg, hobbling off as ten minutes were added after the injury stoppages and earlier delays and prolonged discussion after the disallowed goal. In the 92nd minute Crewe won a corner. It came in long from Lowery and found the head of rising Demetriou who placed his header into the left corner. Crewe 2, Town 0. Although Town had a token attack involving Svanthorsson, the ball was still being given away too much and Crewe looked more likely to score than we did as they pressed forward in an attempt to score a third. But time ran out for them and Town were put out of their misery. Final score: Crewe Alexandra 2, Grimsby Town 0.

This wasn't just about the lack of a striker but this is serious cause for concern. We looked bereft without Rose. The quality of Town's play was poor in general, and we looked one-dimensional. In particular, we proved incapable of dealing with Cooney's long throw. We failed to clear our lines for the first goal while the second was a classic failure to deal with a set piece. The better side won tonight. Fortunately we had a four point cushion before tonight's defeat so all is not lost for the play-offs but there's plenty of work for Mr Artell and the Town squad to do to get us back on course.

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