Crewe 0 Crawley (1) 2 – 19/5/24 1pm
Disappointment for Crewe Alex as they fall at the last fence, losing 0-2 at Wembley in the play off final. Neither side distinguished really, but Crawley took their half-chances, and Crewe failed to get a penalty which was overruled by VAR. Here’s how this game unfolded in real time:
A loud Wembley crowd welcomes the players for this vital playoff final. Even VAR has turned up! And the blazing sun. But not the 8.41 from Crewe station as it was cancelled! Crewe get to play in red and are unchanged. They apparently arrived looking relaxed. Crawley arrived looking very serious. Which attitude will prevail?
10.05 Ruthless tackle by Crewe’s Conor Thomas in midfield. Replay says it’s clean, but ref warns him to be more careful!
18.01 Aaron Rowe gets a yellow, unnecessary late tackle on the halfway line.
24.40 Ironically, the moment the sun goes behind a cloud, the players have a water break!!
36.40 Great save down to his right by Corey Adai from Crewe’s Elliott Nevitt who shot for the lower corner from distance. Best chance for Crewe.
41.03 0-1 !! Crewe dither in the area, and Danilo Orsi strokes it home easily for Crawley.
HT Crewe 0 Crawley 1
51.02 Penalty as keeper Addai brings down Chris Long, but replay shows little or no contact. Surely it won’t be given. VAR results in the penalty being cancelled. Long should have shot when he had the chance! Play restarts with a free kick for diving, not a corner as Crewe thought. Addai looked like he was yellowed, but it’s rescinded and Long doesn’t get a yellow for diving. Weird.
66.05 Joel Tabiner picks up a yellow card for an actual defensive tackle.
69.05 Crawley break from Crewe pressure, with Mickey Demetriou making the important block.
82.55 Demetriou starts a move on the right, and finishes it with a header, saved by Addai.
84.11 0-2 !!! Liam Kelly kills the game for Crawley. He tries to cross from the left, but the blocked cross returns to him, and he places it into an empty net. Crewe won’t be back from this.
Attendance is 33,341.
90.00 TEN minutes added!! Well, with VAR, I’m not surprised.
90+10 FT Crawley Town are promoted. Crewe have another season in League 2.
