Match Report
| Crewe Alexandra | Crewe Alexandra |  |  | Darlington | Darlington | ||||||||||||||||
| Computer Player | Computer Player | Computer Player | Computer Player | ||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Benjamin | P. Benjamin |  | 54 | G |  | 1 | | G | 47 | | Ralph Christie | R. Christie | |||||||||
| Tim Beckham | T. Beckham | | 50 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 49 | | Malcolm Shields | M. Shields | |||||||||
| Phil Forbes | P. Forbes | | 43 | D | | 3 | |  | D | 46 | | Gareth Carlton | G. Carlton | ||||||||
| Jason Potts | J. Potts | | 42 | D | | 4 | | D | 46 | | Nicky Delaney | N. Delaney | |||||||||
| Ledley Sheringham | L. Sheringham | | 40 | D | | 5 | | M | 51 | | Dave Pallister | D. Pallister | |||||||||
| James Vassell | J. Vassell | | 39 | D | | 6 | | M | 50 | | Patrick Smith | P. Smith | |||||||||
| Clive Bramble | C. Bramble | | 53 | M | | 7 | | M | 50 | | Patrick Royce | P. Royce | |||||||||
| Marcus Robinson | M. Robinson | | 52 | M | | | 8 | | M | 42 | | Jason Izzet | J. Izzet | ||||||||
| Eddie Batty | E. Batty | | 51 | M | | 9 | | A | 49 | | Alexander Bishop | A. Bishop | |||||||||
| Titus Southgate | T. Southgate | | 72 | A | | 10 | | A | 47 | | Matthew Weir | M. Weir | |||||||||
| Paul Heskey | P. Heskey | | 52 | A | | 11 | | A | 46 | | Ruel Clegg | R. Clegg | |||||||||
| Tommy Johnson | T. Johnson | | 48 | M | | 12 | | A | 45 | | James Fowler | J. Fowler | |||||||||
| Marcus Benali | M. Benali | | 48 | M | | 13 | | M | 41 | | Teddy Ward | T. Ward | |||||||||
| Nigel Oakley | N. Oakley | | 47 | G | | 14 | | G | 39 | | Daniel Brand | D. Brand | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by Boots Direct |
Match Report
Snow flakes fill the overcast sky here at Alexandra Stadium where Crewe Alexandra play host to Darlington. A crowd of 2,602 fill this 3,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Crewe Alexandra are playing in a 5-3-2 formation while Darlington appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Alan Vernazza.
The pitch is in good condition.
Crewe Alexandra are playing in a 5-3-2 formation while Darlington appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Alan Vernazza.
0.00
0-0Darlington start the game by kicking off the first half!
2.14
0-0Eddie Batty deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Paul Heskey. Paul Heskey whips in a cross ball towards Titus Southgate. Titus Southgate makes a convincing header but it's a woeful effort!
12.19
0-0Ledley Sheringham barges into Patrick Smith. Ledley Sheringham is shown the yellow card! Patrick Smith stretches but gets up unharmed.
12.19
0-0Free kick to Darlington just outside the area...
15.48
0-1Ruel Clegg calmly steps up and drives a low ball under the jumping wall. The ball takes a low bounce and edges inside the post - goal!!
18.04
0-1Malcolm Shields threads a neat ball through to Patrick Smith. Patrick Smith makes a simple pass to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Tim Beckham.
20.35
Nicky Delaney takes a short throw-in bringing Gareth Carlton into play. Gareth Carlton flicks a high pass forward. Patrick Smith holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Patrick Smith makes a probing pass to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir shoots from outside the area but connects badly, narrowly missing the linesman!
22.02
Ledley Sheringham hits a low pass to Clive Bramble. Clive Bramble hits a low pass to Paul Heskey. Paul Heskey knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Ralph Christie who gathers it comfortably.
30.02
Eddie Batty flicks the ball to his team mate, Titus Southgate. Titus Southgate shoots from 20 yards but it scrapes just over the bar. Good effort!
38.23
0-1Patrick Smith makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Alexander Bishop. Alexander Bishop lofts in a cross ball towards Ruel Clegg. With a superhuman jump, Ruel Clegg connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. The keeper is more than a match for it. Good keeping!
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Crewe Alexandra appear unchanged since the first half. Darlington have changed their lineup with James Fowler replacing Nicky Delaney, Teddy Ward replacing Patrick Smith and Daniel Brand replacing Ruel Clegg. The Crewe Alexandra players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.
45.00
The whistle blows and Crewe Alexandra kick off!
47.36
Ledley Sheringham makes a probing pass to Marcus Robinson. Marcus Robinson knocks the ball forward to Paul Heskey. Paul Heskey shoots from 20 yards but Ralph Christie is on top of it.
48.02
Phil Forbes takes it forward alone. Phil Forbes makes a beautiful solo run. Phil Forbes whips in a cross ball towards Paul Heskey. Paul Heskey flicks the ball with his head but it is miles over!
49.26
Jason Potts chips the ball to his team mate, Eddie Batty. Eddie Batty flicks a high pass forward. Titus Southgate collects the pass. Titus Southgate shoots from outside the area but it's drastically wayward!
51.33
Dave Pallister threads the ball through to Alexander Bishop. Alexander Bishop knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Tim Beckham.
54.03
Marcus Robinson kicks a strong pass forward to Paul Heskey. Paul Heskey advances inside the box! Paul Heskey muscles his way past his marker and unleashes a shot at goal but it rises well off target!
59.03
Clive Bramble surges forward with the ball. Clive Bramble knocks in a cross ball towards Paul Heskey. Paul Heskey heads the ball goalwards but is denied by Ralph Christie. Excellent save.
61.09
Jason Potts makes a simple pass to Marcus Robinson. Marcus Robinson knocks the ball forward to Paul Heskey. Paul Heskey shoots from long range. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is a match for it. Fabulous save!
65.16
0-1James Fowler hacks Paul Heskey from behind! James Fowler is given a warning by the referee! Paul Heskey carries on, but is struggling a bit.
71.06
Marcus Robinson barges into Patrick Royce. The referee calls over Marcus Robinson and shows him a yellow card! Patrick Royce stretches but gets up unharmed.
73.47
Jason Izzet makes a simple pass to Daniel Brand. Daniel Brand knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Peter Benjamin who gathers it comfortably.
75.20
Titus Southgate clumsily knocks into Malcolm Shields. The referee calls over Titus Southgate and shows him a yellow card! Malcolm Shields runs off the knock.
83.32
Malcolm Shields deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Teddy Ward. Teddy Ward knocks the ball forward to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
90.00
Teddy Ward flicks the ball to his team mate, Alexander Bishop. Alexander Bishop shoots from 25 yards but it flies well off target!
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!
Match Statistics
Goals
0
1
Shots on Target
3
2
Shots off Target
5
2
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
3
1
Yellow Cards
3
0
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
50.7%
49.3%
Play Area
24%
48%
28%
Scorers
| Ruel Clegg 13 |
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Phil Forbes of Crewe Alexandra |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Peter Benjamin (GK) | 6 | |
| 2. | Tim Beckham (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Phil Forbes (DEF) | 9 | |
| 4. | Jason Potts (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Ledley Sheringham (DEF) |  | 5 |
| 6. | James Vassell (DEF) | 6 | |
| 7. | Clive Bramble (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Marcus Robinson (MID) | | 6 |
| 9. | Eddie Batty (MID) | 7 | |
| 10. | Titus Southgate (ATT) | | 5 |
| 11. | Paul Heskey (ATT) | 8 | |
| 12. | Tommy Johnson (MID) | 0 | |
| 13. | Marcus Benali (MID) | 0 | |
| 14. | Nigel Oakley (GK) | 0 | |
| 1. | Ralph Christie (GK) | 8 | |
| 2. | Malcolm Shields (DEF) | 7 | |
| 3. | Gareth Carlton (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Nicky Delaney (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Dave Pallister (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | Patrick Smith (MID) | 8 | |
| 7. | Patrick Royce (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Jason Izzet (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Alexander Bishop (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Matthew Weir (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Ruel Clegg (ATT) |  | 6 |
| 12. | James Fowler (ATT) | 6 | |
| 13. | Teddy Ward (MID) | 6 | |
| 14. | Daniel Brand (GK) | 6 | |