Crewe Alexandra 1-0 Ebbsfleet United - We've not got what we've deserved, admits proud Daish

With only Hereford United below them in the table, the disillusioned home fans repeated chants to sack their under fire manager Steve Holland and board throughout a very poor performance from their side.

Crewe Alexandra had gone eleven games without a win before dumping Stockport County out of the Cheshire Premier Cup in midweek, but they will need to perform much better if they’re to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

The Fleet, who haven’t won in five Blue Square Premier games, made them look very ordinary and the Kent side deserved a second bite of the cherry for their efforts as they played a side that are two divisions above them off the park.

Expecting the higher league hosts to take the game by the scruff of the neck and keep The Fleet on the back foot, it was the Kent side that did exactly that during a one-sided first half. The only different being the Cheshire side took their one and only chance.

The Fleet almost broke the deadlock after just 89 seconds when Neil Barrett’s overhead kick inside the penalty box dropped agonisingly past the near post.

That sparked the first of many “sack the board” and “Holland out” chants coming from the disgruntled home supporters.

Then, with less than five minutes on the clock, Ebbsfleet central defender almost embarrassed Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Steve Collis.

His right-footed free-kick, from inside the centre circle, sailed past the stranded goalkeeper, but floated agonisingly inches past the left upright.

Midfielder Craig Stone should have done better with a drilled effort from thirty-yards as the Kent side were by far the better side.

The Fleet brave hearts defended as a team throughout and a saving, sliding tackle from Mark Ricketts prevented Donaldson after he was played in through the heart of the Fleet’s defence by Byron Moore.

More anger came from the stands when Kezie Ibe, whose stunning strike saw off Woking in the fourth qualifying round replay at Stonebridge Road, rolled a shot wide of the far post from seventeen-yards, after a slick pass from his strike partner, Michael Gash.

But Ebbsfleet United’s best chance to deservedly open the scoring arrived after 18 minutes.

Gash exchanged a one-two with Ibe, which got him in behind the Crewe back-four, but his angled drive from 12-yards brought a fine smart save from Collis, diving low to his right.

A diving Crewe goalkeeper then did well to tip over Ibe’s left-footed curling effort from the edge of the penalty area, just four minutes later.

The one piece of real quality, however, was enough to send Ebbsfleet United out of the FA Cup, as Donaldson scored his third goal of the season with 34 minutes on the clock.

Billy Jones’ throw from the left was slipped into Donaldson’s path by James Bailey and Donaldson made space for himself before unleashing a right-footed shot from 18-yards, which curled over goalkeeper Lance Cronin to find the top far corner.

But that wasn’t going to deter Ebbsfleet as they bounced back from that set-back and should have earned a replay at Stonebridge Road.

Midfielder Jamie Hand unleashed a 30-yard drive, which whistled past the right hand post with Collis beaten.

And when Fleet striker George Purcell was tacked back by Michael O’Conner when the home-grown striker was about to pull the trigger just outside the six-yard box, that summed up how lucky the home side were today as penalty claims were turned down.

The impressive Gash, although grounded, still got a shot away inside the opening two minutes of the second half - Collis relieved to save the rolling shot comfortably.

Fleet’s last chance of the game, however, fell to Gash three minutes later.

Ibe knocked the ball down for the former Cambridge City striker to send an over-head kick towards goal, which unfortunately looped over.

A Crewe Alexandra shot on Cronin’s goal, however, finally arrived after 56 minutes.

Barrett lost possession to Bailey in midfield, who raced forward, before he unleashed a right-footed thirty-yarder, which sailed harmlessly over.

The disgruntled Crewe fan base grew even more frustrated as their next chance didn’t arrive until the 71^st minute.

They were awarded a free-kick in a good position some 28-yards from goal, but O’Connor’s right-footed free-kick had Cronin diving to his left, but the ball flew just wide.

With brave Ebbsfleet United pressing for a deserved leveller, Crewe broke and almost added a flattering second, but O’Connor fluffed his lines, looping an eighteen-yard shot from the left, well wide, which sparked a chant of “that’s why we’re going down!”.

However, on today’s impressive performance, the bravehearts from Stonebridge Road may be out but they’re definitely not down, as Crewe Alexandra’s smash-and-grab raid undeservedly put them into the second round.

Afterwards, a disappointed but proud Daish climbed up all those steps to face the waiting media, at the back of the main stand.

“Tight game. We were right in the game right up to the last minute of injury time and that’s all you can ask really,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’m disappointed obviously, but the lads’ were magnificent today and gave me everything and I can’t ask for any more than that.

“We came out and we’ve had a right good go at them today from the first whistle. We couldn’t convert all the possession we’ve had, the passes, the corners, into goals.”

Daish criticised the match referee for not awarding his side a penalty after Purcell was fouled just before the break.

“We’ve had a big decision that went against us,” he fumed. “To get through (against) League One sides away from home you need the right decision.

“I think if we got that, that penalty, who knows?

“George has been injured, I’ve given him his start today. The ball’s rolled across the six-yard box on the edge. I can’t see him giving up an opportunity to get a shot off.

“From where I am it looked the defender’s caught the wrong side and he’s just taken his legs out.

“The referee’s seen something and that’s disappointing, but as I say it’s gone now and it’s not important. What is important is we transfer the way that we played today into our league campaign.”

Recent Cup performances has encouraged Daish, who knows his side are capable of mounting a serious push towards the play-off’s - their intended aim after winning the FA Carlsberg Trophy in May.

“I think the last three games in the Cup, away to Eastbourne midweek and the two games (against) Woking has encouraged me and obviously today.

“We’ve probably not got what we’ve deserved today.”

Underfire Crewe Alexandra boss, Steve Holland, meanwhile, was just relieved that Donaldson’s strike was the main perpetrator in this daylight robbery.

“We have had to win ugly today and although it wasn’t a good performance I am pleased for the players that they have got there in the end and won the game,” he told the waiting media afterwards.

“It was a no-win situation for us this afternoon and with the form we have been in, it was a real potential banana skin for us. So we are really pleased to have got through it.

“The real positives were that we have achieved that win in difficult circumstances. We have got a clean sheet and have won the game with a really good finish from Clayton. He showed that real bit of quality inside the box to win the game for us and that is what he can do. He has got three goals in two games, so that is going to build his confidence all the time.

“We were hardly a threat at all and the only bright spark in that first half was the goal. The second half we went down a different road, if I’m honest. If we couldn’t play through, with what we practice then we had to use affective football.

“I’m affair it wasn’t the best to watch and I wouldn’t want to play like that every week, but on certain occasions, needs must and the players came through in the end. It was a tough game.”

Crewe Alexandra: Steve Collis, John Brayford, Julien Baudet, Daniel O’Donnell, Billy Jones, Joel Grant (Calvin Zola 45) James Bailey, Michael O’Connor, Shaun Miller (Mark Carrington 45), Byron Moore, Clayton Donaldson.
Subs: Daniel Woodards, Stuart Tomlinson, Luke Murphy, Tom Pope, Anthony Elding.

Goal: Clayton Donaldon 34

Booked: Julian Baudet 29, Joel Grant 38

Ebbsfleet United: Lance Cronin, Mark Ricketts, Sacha Opinel, James Smith, Darius Charles, Craig Stone, Jamie Hand (Stacy Long 81), Neil Barrett, George Purcell, Kezie Ibe (Ricky Shakes 53), Michael Gash.
Subs: Peter Hawkins, Danny Slatter, Dean Pooley, Sam Mott, Gary Bowes.

Booked: Jamie Hand 63, Darius Charles 81

Attendance: 2,593 (331 away supporters)
Referee: Mr R J West
Assistants: Mr P Handley & Mr J Knowles
Fourth Official: Mr M Naylor