Middlewich Town 2 Crewe FC 1

Mid Cheshire League Cup

MIDDLEWICH met their neighbours for the third time this season on Saturday and Crewe, with a win and draw in the previous two encounters, came to Seddon Street looking to knock Town out of the cup.

Middlewich, though, had different ideas, and an excellent opening half hour saw them bring three good saves out of Steve Harding in the Crewe goal.

Stuart Tulloch and Liam Goulding combined to set up Burgess for the first chance, then Tulloch himself had two good efforts stopped.

After a goalless first half, the game took a different turn in the 65th minute. Marcus Hawkins found Steve Burgess on the edge of the box and he set up the on-rushing John Price, who hit a screamer with his left foot into the bottom corner.

But from the re-start Middlewich fell asleep when Rob Corcoran should have dealt with a long ball forward by Blackburn. However, the defender hesitated and Edwards shot past Walton to bring the visitors level.

Town rallied and the introduction of Simon Nutting and Steve Bayliss added a fresh challenge, with Bayliss taking up his right wing position and Nutting making up a solid back three.

But good defending by Crewe denied Middlewich, who were camped in their half until, with minutes to go, manager Dave Twite introduced Rick Lea and pushed the young full back up front.

His towering presence then caused confusion in the Crewe box when Ian Tier sent a cross in from the left. Lea went up with two Crewe defenders but the ball evaded all of them and fell to Bayliss.

He directed it into the path of Tulloch, who smartly controlled then side-stepped Harding to slot in.

Middlewich: Walton, Hawkins, Woodier, Lewis, Burgess, Corcoran, Price, Tier, Tulloch, Goulding, Barnard. Subs: Bayliss, Nutting, Lea. Star man: John Price.