Mouse masterclass… Yet again.

This past Saturday the mighty AFC Crewe faced bottom of the league Sandbach Town. A game we started brimming with confidence over our so far undefeated (in games we have played) league season. The lads started with tenacity and good passing around an originally nervous Sandbach team. However, we admittedly looked weaker than past games such as the thrashing of Mary Dendy 1982. We failed to convert some good chances from the offset but remained largely on top. As the match continued we piled on the pressure but Sandbach defended immensely and kept us out of their goal for the entire first half. Some good attempts from a front three of Jordan, Mouse and Max gave Sandbach a lot of work to do, but their keeper remained collected and gave our opposition a pair of safe hands. The Sandbach back line kept the pressure on our attackers and Blake and Mouse combined well and played fluid football with the rest of our attack to try and find a way into the Sandbach net. Some brave keeping from Speedy allowed us to keep the ball from reaching Sandbach’s strikers who looked to be growing in confidence with the more chances they received. Sandbach tried a few balls which we found detrimental a week earlier against Bollington. Yet our defenders kept them at bay. Jonjo and Connor did a good job and made some crucial tackles. In the second half the railboys came to play. Mouse opened the scoring with a cool finish just after the break. Shortly after the Veo went offline Mouse became a facilitator playing a peach of a ball through to Blake who doubled our lead. A set piece from Sandbach turned into a goal and allowed them back into the game. 2-1. League debutant Max Winterton beautifully finished just inside the box after taking it aside a defender, again with top goal scorer Mouse assisting to take his game total to 1 goal and 2 assists. 3-1 to AFC Crewe.

Again Sandbach didn’t want to let up and a second goal was conceded by AFC Crewe from an unfortunate error – 3-2 and game on yet again. The lads were unlucky at points with the game being hindered by injuries from the start. Some big names not available this week, and during the game both centre backs had to come off due to injuries. Some players played in different positions to try and fill in the gaps including midfielders having to play at centre back. This awoke a beast inside the railboys and chances persisted. Some great play from substitute Holt to try and find a break through and unsung hero of the game, full back Justin, gave AFC Crewe the edge in going forward. Both full backs, Justin and Dec, enjoyed getting into further forward positions and at times overlapping with our wingers to create space and chances. Later in the game Rob joined the action and Dec played a more advanced role and recorded a few shots on target, which at this point are his bread and butter with some superb goals over the season. Today however was not his day to score his third wondergoal, however Mouse, clinical as ever took it past one defender who ended on the floor and superbly finished in the bottom corner to seal off the game in the 83rd minute. 4-2 AFC Crewe. Again Mouse, Max and Holt had some good chances but the game finished 4-2. Onwards to next week where the Rail boys take on Crewe Reserves in the Crewe FA Junior Shield Semi-Final at the King George V Playing Fields.

Some words from the chairmen to round up this weeks action; “I felt like we rotated the squad on Saturday following some injuries and unavailable players. That meant we got off to a slow start but we were always in control despite not scoring before HT. Come the second half the quality of the attacking players shone through and got the win. 4-2 probably a fair score line in the end.” – Gareth Jones Co-Chairman

“Firstly, credit to Sandbach for their performance. We were all really impressed with how they defended with their lives for large parts. We still have a lot of work to do to reach the levels we're capable of, but in the end it was a solid win. And Mike Blundell. Scoring again. Inevitable, isn't it?” - Liam Bond Co-Chairman

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