News in Crewe

CREWE perspired through a protracted debate over a stoppage-time Elliot Lee strike that could have undone a fine evening's work before it was eventually ruled out.

Referee Rob Lewis and his assistant could have done with help from Stockley Park as they took an eternity to decide that Jonathan Leko was standing offside, blocking off Dave Richards as Lee's deflected effort looped over his head.

PREMIERSHIP Brighton are understood to be monitoring the progress of Crewe's latest defensive prospect Zac Williams.

The 17-year-old has made a significant impact amid the Alex's relegation battle after only making his senior bow in November's Papa John's Trophy game with Wolves under-21s.

THE Lions consolidated their position at the top of the CREWE REGIONAL SUNDAY LEAGUE with a 4-1 win at Willaston White Star as clubs returned to action after the holiday break.

Mike Blundell netted twice and Nathan Tickle and Russell Schofield scored for the visitors with Schofield having played in goal until the interval.

ALEX Neil has been praised for the advice he has been offering Crewe's management team as they aim to steer the club out of relegation trouble.

The former Norwich City and Preston manager arrived at the club at the beginning of November in an advisory role with Dave Artell hoping he and his management team could draw from the Scot's experience of the game at all levels, while offering a different perspective to training methods.

AN inexperienced Crewe side bowed out of the Papa John's Trophy as League One's leaders trained their big guns on this last 16 tie in the closing stages.

Dave Artell pointed out that while he was offering 18-year-old Academy striker Connor Salisbury his debut in the closing stages, his counterpart, Paul Warne, had the luxury of drafting on a £500,000 signing in Freddie Ladapo off the bench to help secure progress.

CREWE Railroaders are seeking new players and coaches as they get ready for the return to pre-season training in January.

The club will be competing in the British American Football's Division Two NW section at the start of next April. But before then Head Coach Jason Smith is on a recruitment drive at both senior and academy level.

CREWE'S season of woes re-emerged on New Year's Day as boss Dave Artell was banished to the stands at Burton after branding referee Peter Wright "terrible".

Artell clashed with the match official at the interval with the Alex trailing 3-1 and didn't emerge pitch side for the second half.

DAVE Artell says there are similarities between Crewe's struggles in League One this season and those of tomorrow night's visitors, Lincoln City (K.O 7.45pm).

Michael Appleton's side travel to South Cheshire (Tuesday) in 18th place and just four points above the relegation zone. They have won once in their last six outings and were dumped out of the FA Cup by League Two Hartlepool at the weekend.

RESILIENCE was the order of the evening as a second-half comeback against basement rivals lifted Crewe off the foot of the League One table.

The Alex's first league success on their travels marks the halfway stage of a campaign, that has been poor in the extreme at times, but with hope of redemption over the past month or so.

A SOUTH Cheshire boys football team has celebrated a stellar season in which they maintained a 100 per cent record.

Nantwich Town Royals under-12s, half of whose squad is made up of young footballers from Crewe and Shavington, won all their 14 games to top the league with a maximum total of 42 points and secure promotion from the Maynard League of the South Cheshire Youth League.