Three Points Lost - One Player Needed - Report
By Alan Stokes & 4two
August 26 2003
Sometimes we looked good, sometimes we looked bad. Overall we looked toothless up front. Missed chances cost us 3 points.
Moor Green Vs Saddlers Preview
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Three Points Lost - one
Player needed |
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Crewe 1-0 Walsall |
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Date
- 25/8/03 |
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Location
- Gresty Rd, Crewe |
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Attendance
- 7026 |
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Crewe
Alex
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Walsall |
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Ince
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Walker |
8 |
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McCready
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Bazeley |
5 |
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Moses |
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Aranalde |
5 |
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Foster |
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Roper |
5 |
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Lunt |
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Ritchie |
8 |
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Rix |
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Samways |
7 |
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Brammer |
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Osborn |
6 |
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Jones |
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Matias |
5 |
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Ashton |
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Hay |
7 |
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Vaughan |
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Merson |
7 |
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Cochrane |
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Leitao |
6 |
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Subs |
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Subs |
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Bankole |
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Wrack |
6 |
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Walker |
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Emblen |
6 |
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Smart |
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Birch |
6 |
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Bell |
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Corica |
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Robinson |
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Oakes |
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| Date:
25/8/03 |
Reporter:
Alan Stokes. |
On Line: 11:00pm |
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Walsall crashed back down to earth
with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Crewe tonight. As fortuitous as
the goal was, it should not disguise the fact that Walsall were
beaten by a much better team. The Crewe side contained youth, skill,
pace and mobility whilst the Saddlers were static, predictable and
offered very little up front again.
Walsall started off the better of the two teams and for the first 20
minutes looked a class above the hosts. Unfortunately, for all
Saddlers possession the keepers goal was rarely threatened. Aranalde
and Bazeley put numerous crosses into the box but as of late, no-one
was anywhere near to putting the ball into the net. The closest
chance arrived with neat link up play between Matias and Merson
releasing Aranalde who shot 26 yards high and wide from just inside
the box.
As the first half progressed Crewe came more into it and gradually
took the game by the scruff of the neck forcing Walsall to defend
deep. As the pressure continued Walsall appeared to lose some
discipline resorting to long hopeful balls for Leitao to win and
hold up which he failed miserably to do. In one sweet move the young
Cochrane released a superb ball to the attacking left winger with
the resulting cross falling superbly for Rix who struck it sweetly
towards goal. Only an acrobatic tip over the bar by Walker kept the
scores level. Five minutes later Walker came to the rescue again
turning a Jones header around the post for a corner. As the ref blew
for halftime Crewe were certainly in control.
They started the second half much the same as the first seemingly
unable to match Crewe's passing, pace and movement. As Walsall
started to counter attack, one raid led to Leitao running onto a
superb through ball from Merson who was then scythed down in the
penalty box. Penalty for sure. The ref though had other ideas. A few
minutes later Merson beat the entire Crewe defence (twice) gifting
the ball to Leitao on the 6 yard box who somehow managed to stumble
and trip over the ball when it just needed a good smack into the
back of the net.
Crewe then began to dominate again with the excellent Ashton having
a free header smacking against the post with Walker beaten and then
somehow contriving to miss from 3 yards after more superb Crewe
play. As Walsall broke again they gained a corner from which Leitao
lifted Hay's header against the bar.
The goal when it came mid way through the second period had a slice
of luck about it. Danny Hay, seemingly under no pressure in his own
half, stepped onto and fell over the ball. Crewe gained possession
with Lunt driving a shot against the bar leaving Jones the simple
task of tapping in. All in all, Crewe were the better side and the
difference between the sides was pace and movement. Crewe had bags
of it whilst Walsall were just way too static. The forward line
needs serious attention. Man of the match for me was debutant
Ritchie. Strong in the air, good tackler and extremely comfortable
on the ball. |
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.gif) 4two - Pedro, Zig, Ropes, Jorge - just not up to
it today lads. Roper cannot play the game we want from the back. The
opposition know it. We are way to inconsistent WITHIN games.
Good one minute, awful the next. |
.gif) Megadeath - I'm gutted, we've lost our first
game of the season having played really well. Only an unfortunate
mistake by Hay set up Crewe for the goal |
| Singingshiver - . We were comfortable until
Crewe scored and then fell apart. All we need is a striker up there
with Jorge so the ball sticks a bit more |
| RushallSaddler - We also definitely need two
forwards, one will do for Saturday, but you need at least three
forwards in the 1st division, and I don't include Birchy in that three |
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.gif) |
Hay was having a good game
until he slipped on the ball, allowed Crewe to break and scramble
the ball in to the box amidst calls for a foul on a Walsall player
as they stabbed the ball home.
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.gif) |
Good turn out from Walsall
fans. At least 1000 of our fans there. Crewe had 3 of their 4 stands
open. 7000 not bad saying we aren't a big draw.
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.gif) |
Not as bad as the fraggle we
had on Saturday. Allowed the game to flow when he could. Turned down
a few penalty calls. One bizarre incident when a Crewe player and
Leitao went down injured (not from the same challenge). Both players
left the field at the same time, Leitao was made to wait longer than
the Crewe player (Anyone know why?). Osborn booked for a 50/50
challenge he won.
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