Wanderers 4, CREWE 1.
FIRST half goals from Per Frandsen, Ian Marshall and Gudni Bergsson put Wanderers on their way to their fourth win in five games, writes BEN Chief Soccer Writer Gordon Sharrock
It took a gutsy performance from Dario Gradi's Alex to save themselves from a hammering but there was never any doubt, after they led 2-0 on 22 minutes, that Wanderers had the points in the bag.
Frandsen was prominent on his return from suspension, firing home from 20 yards then setting up Marshall for a textbook header but Neil Sorvel pulled one back in the 32nd minute to keep Crewe in the hunt.
Sam Allardyce ended the guessing game when he named Marshall, the Watford matchwinner, in his starting line-up and left top scorer Michael Ricketts on a substitutes' bench which had a strong attacking flavour.
Sorvel's well-taken goal gave the Alex hope but, after Frandsen and Gardner had hit the woodwork, Gudni Bergsson restored the two goal advantage just before half-time.
Crewe had their moments in the second half but Robbie Elliott made vital interceptions to deny Rodney Jack and Colin Cramb while at the other end Marshall, Kevin Nolan and Dean Holdsworth all went close before Nolan finished off a sweet move started by Warhurst and helped on by Holdsworth for his first goal in senior football.
ACTION HIGHLIGHTS
7 mins: Wanderers have a lucky let off when Lunt feeds Lumsdon and the Crewe loan star glides past Warhurst, missing the target with just Jaaskelainen to beat.
12 mins: Gardner works well to create an opening, taking a return pass from Farrelly and firing a peach of a left footer a yard wide of Kearton's left hand post.
19 mins: Farrelly is equally close with a fierce cross-shot.
GOAL!
20 mins: Frandsen makes goalscoring look simple, collecting a short pass from Gardner and firing a 20 yard right-footer well out of Kearton's reach.
GOAL!
22 mins: Frandsen turns provider, receiving Farrelly's short-corner and crossing for Marshall to rise high to head his second goal in successive games.
27 mins: Wanderers are in the groove and Farrelly just can't muster enough power in his shot at the end of a Hansen-inspired counter-attack, helped on by Marshall.
GOAL!
31 mins: Wanderers pay the penalty for slack marking on the edge of the box, Cramb teeing up Sorvel for a right footer into the top corner.
37 mins: Frandsen hits the crossbar with a 20 yard free kick.
43 mins: O'Kane gets a vital block on Sorvel's close range shot and, after Jaaskelainen clears the corner, Gardner curls a left footer against the angle.
GOAL!
44 mins: Warhurst's header from Farrelly's corner is blocked but Bergsson follows up with an unstoppable shot.
Half-time: 3-1.
51 mins: Alarm bells ring when Jack races past Elliott but the Crewe man's shot is straight at Jaaskelainen.
54 mins: Rivers is clean through until Elliott storms in to make a vital challenge.
66 mins: O'Kane's deep cross finds Marshall in oceans of space but, after collecting the pass, the big man fails to get hold of his shot.
75 mins: Nolan curls a right footer narrowly wide.
82 mins: Kearton goes full length to palm away Holdsworth's shot with Nolan waiting to pounce.
GOAL!
88 mins: Holdsworth plays a delightful first time pass to send Nolan in to score his first senior gol.
90 mins: Holdsworth breaks clear on the right but sees his shot hit the post.
Full-time: 4-1.
Wanderers (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen, O'Kane, Bergsson, Warhurst, Elliott; Gardner, Frandsen, Nolan, Farrelly; Marshall, Hansen. Subs: Holdsworth for Farrelly 56 mins, Ricketts for Marshall 67 mins, Fredgaard for Hansen 86 mins, Passi, Banks.
Crewe: (4-3-3): Kearton; Foster, Macauley, Sodje, Wright; Sorvel, Lunt, Lumsdon; Jack, Rivers, Cramb. Subs: Bankole, Tait, Little, Hulse, Howell.
Referee: Keith Hill (Royton, Herts).
Attendance: 12,836.
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