The Rollercoaster Ride Is All But Over

By CCFC Sid
April 12 2004

There's never a policeman around when you want one is there? CCFC were mugged by Crewe at Gresty Road - and with the points went CCFC's last chance of making the play offs.

It's a much used cliche, but had this been a boxing match, it would have been stopped at half-time. Sadly for CCFC it wasn't, and Crewe took the lead within seconds of the second half starting (With Higdon scoring for the home side) - and went on to score twice more.

This was a much changed CCFC team from the side that hammered Millwall, with Lowe being given a start - but his potential supply not! (Though in Gudjonsson's case it was surely through injury?). Konjic was out injured, and Staunton replaced him in the centre, which is the position most CCFC supporters prefer to see him play - though he could be faulted for all three goals today....

The first half saw CCFC camped in the Crewe half without really ever bothering Williams in goal, while Crewe relied on trying to catch CCFC on the break. Official statistics show CCFC missed/messed 14 chances to Crewe's one in the opening 45 minutes! There are some days when you just know it's not going to happen for you....

Having caught CCFC napping at the start of the second half, Symes made it 2-0 after 64 minutes, before Lowe pulled a goal back for CCFC (Thanks to a quality delivery from substitute Gudjonsson) - and thoughts of a superb come-back came to the fore. Sadly it wasn't to be, as Crewe as good as guaranteed that they will be in Division One next season....

Shearer hauled down Jones seconds before the end of the match (And was lucky(ish) to stay on), and late substitute Dean Ashton wrapped the game up for the home side.

To quote the great John Lydon: `Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?'