26/02/2008 - Crewe Alex 0, Carlisle 1
Gwyn Griffiths reports from the Alexandra Stadium
Crewe Alex 0
Carlisle United 1
(Dobie 64)
CREWE still look short of firepower to emerge unscathed from League One’s relegation dogfight.
Their mini-revival was brought to an abrupt end by substitute Scott Dobie’s clinical second-half strike.
Carlisle re-signed their former forward during the transfer window and he made a telling contribution after leading scorer Joe Garner departed with an injury.
Crewe, too, have gone for a familiar face to help them out of a fix.
But while Kenny Lunt’s passing ability is having an impact on a side who were shuffling erratically through the gears a couple of weeks ago, having a striker of Dobie’s calibre up their sleeve would be an even bigger boon as we enter what promises to be a nervous finale to the season.
Although hard-working Carlisle bossed the game at the Alexandra Stadium last night, Byron Moore should have ensured Dobie’s effort was an equaliser and not the long-awaited winner John Ward had been waiting for his side to clinch on their travels.
While the Alex teenager was denied twice on the stroke of half-time by Keiren Westwood’s agility at the far post, he really should have made one of his efforts count.
Now head scout Glyn Chamberlain will be asked again to beef up his list of proven strikers who may be available on loan so as to ensure Crewe are not taking up an uncomfortable long-term residency in the bottom four.
Dobie demonstrated all the hallmarks of a man with that sort of experience when he nudged ahead of George Abbey to drill home Cleveland Taylor’s right-wing cross.
And that, apart from a last-minute header from Gary Roberts, which the excellent Westwood tipped over, was more or less game, set and match for a team with an ability to close out a win.
Yet after Steve Holland had the rare luxury of naming an unchanged side, it was Crewe who had started the evening with the greater purpose.
Lunt teed up Steven Schumacher for an early dig from 20 yards, which the Merseysider arrowed a yard over the woodwork.
Wing loan ace Gary Roberts was also prominent in the early threat, notably when he cut inside and drilled a cross over the box which Garner sliced clear.
Sadly, though, Crewe’s early momentum was soon lost in a tepid first 45 in which the Cumbrians stamped their authority all over.
Former Vale man Marc Bridge-Wilkinson pulled the strings in midfield, while Taylor, a January buy from Scunthorpe, provided a regular outlet down the right wing.
Yet despite their dominance, Ward’s side fashioned few chances either.
Former Nantwich winger Simon Hackney’s 20th-minute cross just eluded the touch of Danny Graham at the far post.
And Danny O’Donnell was forced to take evasive action, clearing over his own bar when Taylor pulled Bridge-Wilkinson’s diagonal pass back across the box.
While Garner powered a header over from another Taylor delivery Crewe – hampered by the blustery wind – could barely get the ball out of their own half.
Centre-half Peter Murphy took Taylor’s lay-off and warmed Ben Williams’s gloves with a cracking rising drive.
But when a hopeful ball ran through to Moore as the half drew to a close, there wasn’t a Carlisle defender in sight.
Westwood beat out the teenager’s first effort and then completed an acrobatic double save when he leapt up and palmed away the follow-up.
With Garner failing to reappear for the second half, former West Brom and Forest forward Dobie offered fresh legs.
But it was midfielder Grant Smith who went close to breaking the stalemate when he pulled Graham’s lay-off inches past the far post.
Crewe sparked into life at last when Nicky Maynard almost made Murphy pay for a casual header at the back, dispatching a volley a yard over Westwood’s bar from the edge of the box.
Moore then dived forward to thunder Lunt’s cross into the side-netting.
However,Crewe were perspiring when Williams almost sliced the ball into his own net attempting to smash Abbey’s 61st-minute backpass upfield.
Fortunately the ball trickled a yard past the post and there was another let-off from the resulting corner when Taylor pulled a juicy chance wide.
Seemingly unsettled now at the back, there was no reprieve when Dobie pounced in the 64th minute with such a smart finish.
Moore was offered a difficult chance to level six minutes later, but failed to get a clean connection as he turned on a loose ball and Westwood only had to make a routine save.
Tom Pope and, later, Ryan Lowe, were thrown on to add some new attacking impetus, but Carlisle had a firm stranglehold in the closing minutes and Dobie and Taylor almost killed the game off on the break with a slick piece of passing.
Julien Baudet blotted his copybook, ironically just after he was named sponsors’ man of the match, when he miscued his kick and let in Graham, who came closer to the corner flag than the goal with his effort from the left of the box.
But there was no denying Westwood’s quality again when his save to deny Roberts ensured his side moved up to second in the League One table.
Crewe, on the other hand, are left contemplating spending another four days, at least, in the dreaded drop zone.
MATCH STATS
Goal attempts: Crewe 9 (4 on target), Carlisle 16 (4 on target)
Referee: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire) 7
Cards: Yellow – Crewe: Baudet (81, foul). Carlisle: None. Red – None.
Attendance: 4,765
Entertainment: 6
PLAYER RATINGS
WILLIAMS: Came close to a truly embarrassing own goal. Fortunate then, perhaps, he was not truly tested. 6
ABBEY: Solid effort and got forward to support the attack at times. 7
BOYLE: Had his work cut out against the lively Cleveland Taylor. 6
BAUDET: Best defender on night, but late miscue almost let Graham in. 8
O’DONNELL: Worked hard to keep things tight and is improving. 7
LUNT: Flitted in and out of the game, perhaps short on match fitness. 6
GARY ROBERTS: Couldn't get hold of the midfield battle. 6
SCHUMACHER: Ditto Roberts. 6
GARY ROBERTS (loan): Had his moments when he cut in from the left flank. 7
MAYNARD: Volleyed over in the second half, but below par. 6
MOORE: Missed a juicy first-half double chance, but kept on going. 7
SUBSTITUTES
POPE (for Moore, 72): Held up a few long balls, but no real impact.
LOWE (for Schumacher, 84): No impact at all.
Not used: Cox, O’Connor, McCready.
CARLISLE: 1 Westwood, 2 Raven, 21 Evan Horwood, 5 Danny Livesey, 6 Peter Murphy, 27 Cleveland, Taylor (15 Arnison, 87), 4 Bridge-Wilkinson, 25 Grant Smith, 18 Hackney, 9 Graham, 14 Garner (Dobie, 46).
Subs: 20 Howarth, 8 Lumsdon, 16 Jeff Smith.