Vagrants victory sees return to action (From Warrington Guardian)

Vagrants victory sees return to action

TABLE topping Crewe Vagrants returned to action with a 4-3 victory at home to City of Manchester, last Saturday.

The 1st XI maintained their promotion push with a positive start to the year although it was anything but plain sailing.

Crewe started promisingly with some slick passing and fast forward runs that eventually delivered a lead on 13 minutes.

After David Johnson's initial shot was blocked, Neil Darling powered in a cross from James Capper to put away.

Celebrations were short-lived as Manchester hit back within 60 seconds through a highly controversial penalty flick.

Incensed, Vagrants threw everything at the Manchester defence and were back in front on 16 minutes when Darling hammed home Holland's pass.

Unbelievably, again it only lasted a minute as they broke quickly and beat keeper Ravi Kaler to make it 2-2.

Now Crewe were on the back foot and they were left trailing via another breakaway move on 25 minutes before responding in fine fashion.

Holland rifled the home side level with a spectacular goal on the turn, three minutes later.

Continuing the frenzy into the second half, Andrew Ashworth thought he'd netted a fourth just two minutes into the restart only for the strike to be disallowed.

Darling and Capper both saw efforts fly wide as Crewe upped the tempo before Kaler kept them in it with three spectacular saves in quick succession.

Ashworth, Capper and Holland got them going before linking up for the winner, eight minutes from time.

Holland broke through the defence and pushed the ball through to Ashworth who made no mistake.

Manchester went for broke in the closing stages but Crewe held on for victory number nine and stretch their unbeaten run to 11.

Two points clear at the top of NHL Division Two West, the 1st XI travel to struggling Macclesfield on Saturday.

The 2nd XI picked up a point against Neston South Wirral.

Stuck in the bottom two in NWHL Division Four, Crewe picked up their fourth draw on the season with a 2-2 result against their third-placed opponents.

They must beat fellow-strugglers Daten at home on Saturday.

Also struggling, the 3rd XI bagged a crucial 2-0 over Runcorn.

A battle of the bottom two in NWHL Division Six, Neil Gibbons and Paul Owen were on target for three valuable points.

Crewe looked in for a frustrating afternoon after blowing two open goals in a dominant first half.

And with their keeper a virtual spectator, more chances at the other end went begging before the breakthrough finally came.

Gibbons was in the right place to convert a short corner and then Owen made it save after good work from Martin Woodhart.

The 3rd XI will look to maintain the momentum at Wrexham on Saturday.

The Ladies 1st XI travel to Southport.