An all-teenage side secured a well-earned three points in the competition over the League Two outfit.
An early goal from Tom Dele-Bashiru and a fine piece of play from Lorenzo Gonzalez gave City the advantage. Crewe managed to get one back in the opening moments of the second half through Alex Nicholls, but it wasn’t enough to beat dominant City as the Blues responded with two more thanks to a Taylor Richards penalty and last-minute strike from Henri Ogunby.
What happened
After a tough battle against Shrewsbury earlier in the competition, which ended with a single point following a penalty shoot-out loss, questions arose around how Paul Harsley’s side would respond.
Once again, due to injury, the Under-21 boss was forced to field an incredibly young side but despite their age, City looked full of maturity and experience.
City were rewarded instantly for their speed and agility as Tom Dele-Bashiru collected Lorenzo Gonzalez’ deflected effort and smashed a thunderous strike past Ben Garrett after just two minutes.
City’s early lead was an instant confidence boost and led to a number of chances scattered throughout the first half, one of which was a superb right-footed attempt from 30 yards by Iker Pozo, but the Crewe stopper stretched tall to get his fingertips to prevent the midfielder from converting.
Harsley’s side doubled their lead in the 22nd minute as Dele-Bashiru’s perfectly timed through ball was picked up by Gonzalez. The Swiss striker switched up a gear and performed a lung-bursting run before he pulled the trigger and expertly chipped the ball over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net.
Crewe struggled to keep up and seemed to have just a single opportunity to half the deficit in the first period through Shaun Miller when the winger attempted to take aim past Tom Scott, but the shot failed the unsettle out stopper as is flew wide of the far post.
The home side perked up as they returned from the break.
It was substitute Alex Nicholls who finally clawed one back for Crewe as he slid forward and pushed the ball past Scott and into the bottom far corner, and after a superb first half performance, the Blues were unlucky to concede.
Scott’s heart was sent racing moments later when Oliver Finney’s curling free-kick was head towards goal by Jordan Bowery, but luckily for our ‘keeper it was overshot and skimmed over the crossbar.
City looked like they rounded off their win with a glorious penalty taken by super sub, Taylor Richards, as he stepped up to convert from the spot after Ian Carlo Poveda was brought down in the area by Corey Whelan but there was another to come.
Fellow substitute Henri Ogunby flew out of the blocks to make an instant impact as he pounced on Rabbi Matondo’s looping cross and sent his volley sailing into the back of the net and making it four for the Blues.
How we lined up
Thomas Scott took his place in goal shielded by a back four of Alpha Diounkou, Colin Rosler, Nathanael Ogbeta and Jeremie Frimpong.
Iker Pozo was anchored in midfield alongside Tom Dele-Bashiru and skipper Felix Nmecha, while Rabbi Matondo and Ian Carlo Poveda flanked Lorenzo Gonzalez up front.
Up next
The EDS next face Swansea away in the Premier League 2 on Saturday 29 September.
