By Stuart Kidson
March 18 2004

APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE POSTING. PC PROBLEMS AGAIN ARE TO BLAME FOR THE DELAY. THE PROBLEMS HAVE MEANT THAT THE WIGAN REPORT WILL ALSO BE LATE BEING POSTED. I WILL TRY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Crewe Alexandra (1) v West Bromwich Albion (2)
Gresty Road, Saturday 13th March 2004
Nationwide League Division One

The Baggies gave their 2,290 travelling fans a happy journey home at the weekend as they grabbed 2 goals in the space of four minutes to snatch victory at Gresty Road. Despite falling behind in the 2nd half, The Baggies battled and harried for the win in front of SKY TV cameras.

Albion Boss Gary Megson shocked everyone with his squad selection, when it emerged that James Chambers was left out to make way for Bernt Haas, despite his superb showings for the club in the previous two games.

The late kick off meant that the pressure to perform was firmly on the shoulders of the Stars in Stripes, as leaders Norwich had lost 2 - 1 at Cardiff City earlier in the afternoon. A win would close the gap and the sides would be level on points and goal difference would decide who occupied top slot.

The Baggies set out to grab the chance and with the game just minutes old Andy Johnson found Geoff Horsfield with a neat pass. Horsfield turned quickly and lost his man, but Richard Walker recovered in time to deflect the strikers shot out for a corner.

Crewe had justifiable claims for a penalty turned down when Thomas Gaardsoe tripped Steve Jones just inside the visitors 18 yard box, but referee Mr. Mike Thorpe waved away the shouts of the Crewe players much to the relief of Gaardsoe.

Crewe then hit the Baggies on the break when Craig Hignett sent a wonderful cross filed pass to Jones who fired a 15 yard effort straight at Russell Hoult but the shot never posed much of a threat to the Baggies shot stopper. Hignett then caused concern as his run from the middle of the park ended with a shot towards goal but it was always rising and sailed high over the bar.

Albion fought back and a well worked move down the right gave Johnson the oppurtunity to cross into the Crewe area. Horsfield somehow managed to get down low enough to send a difficult header just inches wide of the post but Clayton Ince had to work hard to cover the effort. Mark Kinsella then headed wide after Bernt Haas had turned provider for the Irish international.

Crewe were awarded a freekick moments later and Kenny Lunt picked out Dean Ashton who headed over from close range when it seemed it would have been easier to have hit the target. However, a similar experience befell Darren Moore when Jason Koumas found him with a super lofted freekick moments after Ashton's miss. Moore failed to make proper contact with the ball though and another chance was wasted.

Albion had realised that Crewe were weak on their left and proceeded to exploit this fact. Horsfield crossed in low but Stephen Foster managed to clear the ball from danger and out for a corner before former Railwayman favourite Rob Hulse could get a touch.

Koumas then crossed for Haas, but the former Armani model was at full stretch and struggled to get a touch to send the ball into the back of the net. The visitors were now applying the pressure on Crewe relentlessly and Hulse did well to flick a corner back into the area where Haas could only direct his header straight into Ince's arms.

Hoult had to stay alert to the constant threat posed by Crewe's counter attacking and he was on call when Ashton got the better of Moore on 30 minutes and let fly with a shot down low which the keeper did well to react to. Jones was lurking though and Hoult had to make sure he was first to the ball after parrying the shot.

Horsfield had another chance when Koumas picked him out with a cross from the by-line but the strikers header was wasted as he headed straight at Foster with an open goal behind the defender. Despite the constant pressure being applied by the Baggies, Crewe always looked dangerous when counter attacking. Hoult again had to make a good save when Ashton let fly with a low shot that skidded along the floor towards the near post.

Horsfiled could have sent the Baggies into the half time break in the lead when he reacted first to a half hearted clearance by Foster. Horsfield beat the Crewe defender but his shot from 18 yards went inches wide of Ince's far post.

Crewe again countered and Jones found himself one on one with Hoult as the Baggies defenders were caught too far up field. The diminutive striker raced goalwards but Hoult kept his cool and raced from his line to block the Alex players shot. The danger had not passed though and Hoult was forced to chase the striker out of his box before conceding a free kick on the touch line.

Following the break Albion applied greater pressure onto the home side. Hulse almost scored when he unleashed a 20 yard effort but the ball drifted just wide of the left hand post. Johnson then bought out another fine save from Ince after he had made a surging run from midfield and shoot from just inside the area. Horsfiled then saw yet another chance go to waste when he beat Foster again and saw his shot blocked by the legs of Ince.

Albion were always at threat from the strong counter attacking capabilities of Crewe and against the run of play Justin Cochrane sent Ashton clear on goal with a womnderful through ball. Ashton, who had bagged his first hat-trick for the club in the previous game, made no mistake with his shot which Hoult could only get his hand to and deflect into his net.

The Baggies had to wait for 6 minutes before they clawed themselves back onto level terms when Lloyd Dyer crossed the ball after getting round Lunt on the left. His cross was met by Johnson on the half volley for the Welsh internationals first goal of the season. The Baggies Barmy Army exploded as the ball nestled in the back of the net.

Four minutes later the Baggies travelling fans were again 'Boing Boinging' when Lee Hughes flicked the ball past Ince after Horsfield had sent the ball across the face of goal with a clever overhead cross from a throw in. It was Hughes's 6th goal in 9 games against Crewe and was a perfect way for the striker to silence the now familiar taunts surrounding his private life.

Sean Gregan made an attempt to get his name on the scoresheet with a long range effort minutes later as the Baggies went looking for a third that would kill off the game. Gregan's effort was saved by the impressive Ince.

Neil Clement caused concern with his first touch when he made a gift of the ball to Ashton mid way between the Baggies area and the halfway line. Ashton sent the ball through for Jones, but his shot was always swerving away from goal.

The game ended on a high for the travelling support and the team showed their appreciation for the support by applauding the Baggies faithful at the end. The baggiesworld.co.uk Man of the Match went to Andy Johnson.

Teams
CREWE Ince, B. Jones, Foster, Walker, Vaughan, Lunt, Sorvel, Cochrane, Hignett,
S.Jones, Ashton
Subs Tomlinson, McCready, Edwards, J. Robinson, Tonkins

BAGGIES Hoult, Haas, Moore, Gaardsoe, P. Robinson, Johnson, Kinsella, Gregan, Koumas, Hulse, Horsfield
Subs Murphy, Facey, Clement, Hughes, Dyer