Crewe 2, Northampton 2: clockwatch for Morris after agony of late leveller
If anything can be taken with certainty from Crewe's home work this week it is they look to have discovered the resilience they lacked last season which suggests they can take on the challenge at the top end of the table this time around.
Against Sutton on Tuesday night, and today, against a strong Northampton side, large parts of the game were spent on the backfoot, yet solid defending kept the drama to a minimum.
What you can't legislate for though are the vagaries of refereeing, whose standards seem to plummet the lower you go down the divisions.
Both managers had reason to dispute referee David Webb's performance at the Mornflake Stadium.
Crewe's hopes of holding onto their slim advantage courtesy of two more Courtney Baker-Richardson goals in the first half were dashed when Sam Hoskins' corner sailed in past young loanee Arthur Okoknwo.
The Cobblers' equaliser was timed in the 97th-minute after the board had shown six minutes of added time – apparently the extra stoppage time was attributed to Webb dishing out yellow cards to Dan Agyei and visiting keeper Lee Burge.
It left Morris diplomatically bemused. Northampton boss Jon Brady was less pragmatic in his post-match analysis when he claimed Baker-Richardson's stunning opener shouldn't have stood because the striker had stood on Cobblers defender Tyler Magloire in the build-up.
Morris said: "The reason another one minute 30 seconds was added on was because of the booking for Dan Agyei and the keeper. That took that long apparently, which wasn't the case and decisions like that change the whole week for people.
"That meant 4,000 people went home gutted and dejected rather than jubilant.
"It's been taken away by a decision that is out of our control. But all that has been taken away is two points and it's still been a good start to the season.
"Northampton had more of the ball and territory in the second half, but we're playing one of the best teams in the league.
"But it's still such a disappointment as we merited winning that game having got ourselves into the lead.
"If we'd have won that we'd have had an outstanding start to the season but to take 10 points from 15 is still a good start."
Baker-Richardson set up his eye-catching 26th-minute finish, which he despatched right-footed into the top corner, with his own determined work dispossessing Magloire as the Cobblers man took the ball clear of the box. It was a strong challenge which saw him make contact with the grounded defender's legs as he wriggled clear to take the shot, but Brady's interpretation may be a tad over dramatic.
"How the referee hasn't picked that up as he was five yards away from it. It was a stamp on his (Magloire's) back as he got ready to shoot. I don't think it was deliberate as he's not that sort of player (Baker-Richardson), but it was still a foul," said the Northampton boss, who claimed his side had worked on their flag-kick routines suspecting that teenager Okonkwo might be susceptible.
"We were banging on the door in the second half and it was pleasing to score late on. We kept on pushing and pushing and we should have won the game," added Brady.
A more routine finish for Baker-Richardson doubled Crewe's lead (41), but it was notable for some great work by Kelvin Mellor out wide which offered Callum Ainley a sight of goal, although it was the in-form No.9 who did the rest.
Northampton were back in contention before the break when Kieron Bowie crossed for Hoskins to tap in his first at the near post (43).
And push they did for an equaliser for much of the second period. Magloire was denied by Okonkwo and former Alex man Jon Guthrie diverted a long free kick just past the post.
But Crewe were standing firm until the late sickener was delivered from Hoskins' corner with Okonkwo failing to take command of his box and left unsighted by his own defenders.
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