Gradi praises Crewe's young guns (From This Is Cheshire)

Gradi praises Crewe's young guns

3:18pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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Crewe Alexandra 4 Grimsby Town 2

DARIO Gradi paid tribute to Crewe’s young guns after Tuesday night’s thrilling 4-2 win over Grimsby.

Clayton Donaldson wrapped up a welcome three points for 10-men Alex as it all went down to the wire.

After Byron Moore and Joel Grant traded first-half goals with the lowly Mariners, Ashley Westwood finally put the hosts in the driving seat on 55-minutes.

Crewe always looked capable of dropping the perennial clanger but despite sub Carl Martin’s late dismissal, their in-form striker secured victory deep into stoppage time.

“The kids are carrying us through at the moment,” explained Gradi.

“They’ve done well and I’m pleased for them.

“I’m glad if the crowd were entertained and I’m glad we got the points.

“We need to be winning these games and if we are to go on a run, it needs to start now.”

It was a game that brought out both the best and worst of Crewe – stunning at times going forward yet error-prone at the back.

With Moore and Mat Mitchel-King in for Simon Walton and Harry Worley, the hosts dominated from the whistle.

Donaldson did all the hard work, breezing clear of his marker only to shoot straight at Nick Colgan.

Shaun Miller wasted a golden one-on-one in similar fashion before volleying over as Crewe were relentless as an attacking force.

Pressure finally paid off when Miller headed down a James Bailey ball for Moore to bury via a deflection off both Colgan and post on 29 minutes.

Out of nothing, Akpa Akpro drifted through a static defence to respond within three minutes for Grimsby.

But the hosts regained their advantage almost immediately when Moore played the perfect lay-off for Grant to smash home for 2-1.

Dean Sinclair capped a crazy half, bustling his way through further weak defending to level things up on 41 minutes.

Crewe were back in charge when Westwood met Donaldson’s clever pull-back from the by-line with a blockbuster that rose into the top corner, ten minutes into the restart.

Miller wasted two great opportunities to wrap things up before Steve Phillips saved the day, producing a point-blank stop to thwart Lee Peacock.

Sub Martin’s dismissal for a lunge on Michael Leary sparked an 85th-minute fracas but Crewe didn’t wilt.

Donaldson raced to pick up Bailey’s long pass, cut inside and promptly beat Colgan in style to the delight of a vocal and supportive Gresty Road End.

“Entertaining wasn’t the word I’d have used when you’re involved and trying to win the game,” added Gradi.

“I said to them at half-time that they must have felt they’d been hit below the belt twice.

“We could have been four or five up and came in at half-time 2-2.

“We know we’ve got a bit of a problem in the air but I thought Mat was fine and Danny’s work on the ball was better.

“We didn’t create so much in the second-half but Westy took his goal well.

“To be fair to Clayton, it was a good opportunity to put the game beyond doubt.

“But I’m annoyed at the full-back, I told him not to run out with the ball.

“If he does that again, he’s career here is over.

“He’d done well apart from the two times he ran out with the ball and it’s annoying because it could have cost us the game.

“Harry was left out for the same reason, in the dying seconds on Saturday he was running the ball out of the defence and then loses it.

“That has been a real problem for us.”

Crewe travel to Torquay on Saturday.

Crewe: Phillips, Brayford, Tootle (Martin 42), Mitchel-King, O’Donnell, Westwood, Bailey, Grant (Schumacher 88), Moore, Donaldson, Miller. Subs not used: Legzdins, Worley, Murphy, Walton, Gardner.

Attendance – 3,272.