Sunday May 27, 2012 Final Finished Wembley

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Cheltenham Town
    • Crewe Alexandra
    • 90+7' There goes the final whistle! A 2-0 win for Crewe in the League Two play-off final. They will play in League One next season. Hard luck for Cheltenham, but Crewe had the cutting edge on the day.
    • 90+6' Moore departs to be replaced by Lee Bell for Crewe.
    • 90+3' Garbutt floats a cross out of the park for a goalkick to Crewe, who are heading for League One next season.
    • 90+2' Cheltenham seem to be a spent force as Crewe keep the ball in the opposition half. Moore wins a corner off Penn.
    • 89' Brown dives low to his left to save from Clayton. Going to be six added minutes. Six minutes for Cheltenham to save themselves.
    • 88' Chance for Moore to put the icing on the cake from Clayton's pass, but he hammers the shot wide of the target from the edge of the area.
    • 87' McGlashan picks out Elliott with the cross, but headed straight into the arms of Phillips.
    • 86' Dugdale with the clearance from Garbutt's cross. Moore caught offside at the other end.
    • 85' A change for Crewe with Martin replacing Leitch-Smith.
    • 84' Difficult to see how Cheltenham can come up with the two goals they need. Crewe have rode their luck, but seem to have got the job done.
    • 83' Changes for Cheltenham as Spencer takes over from Burgess while Russell Penn replaces Marlon Pack.
    • 82' Cheltenham penalised for failing to find a goal for all their efforts. Looks like a defeat for them.
    • 81' GOAL! Leitch-Smith slides the ball into the path of Moore, who slides the ball beyond Brown. Crewe lead 2-0. That should be that.
    • 80' Moore earns himself some space from Westwood's corner, but he succeeds in screwing the shot wide of goal. Was a chance to finish matters off.
    • 79' Summerfield back to head clear the free-kick from Westwood. A corner for Crewe.
    • 78' Max Clayton takes over from the limping Powell.
    • 77' Elliott takes out Powell with a late challenge. Free-kick chance for Crewe, but they are going to make a change here.
    • 76' Pack slams a shot over from distance. Poor effort really from long range.
    • 75' Another spot of heroic defending by Elliott to deny Powell the shot at goal. Pack and Murphy collide in the box. Murphy appeals for a penalty, but referee says no.
    • 74' Garbutt forced to track Moore from Powell's pass. Excellent defending there inside his own box.
    • 73' First change of the final as Darryl Duffy takes over from Goudling for Cheltenham.
    • 72' Moore brings down McGlashan out wide. Pack throws over the free-kick before Summerfield lashes a volley wide seconds later.
    • 71' Dugdale sees an effort kept out by Brown from close range. Vital save to keep Cheltenham alive after Westwood had dropped in the free-kick.
    • 70' Elliott catches Powell with a late challenge. A clumsy, tired challenge. Free-kick chance for Crewe 25 yards from goal.
    • 69' Decent piece of play by Mohamed. Runs beyond Harry Davis, but ends up sticking the cross into the hands of Phillips in the Crewe goal.
    • 68' Jombarti hammers a loose ball high into the air, but Burgess can't get his head onto that at the halfway line.
    • 67' The Crewe fans seem to be in party mood, but there is a long, long way to go. Crewe a long, long way from home at the moment.
    • 66' Flag goes up against Burgess for offside as the drinks break is signalled by the referee.
    • 65' The tempo beginning to drop in this heat. Not wholly surprising as Cheltenham collect in the middle of the park.
    • 64' Goulding looking for the pass, but given away cheaply by Mohamed. Powell sends a shot spinning well over the bar from distance.
    • 63' Powell crowded out in the area before Cheltenham hold up Tootle. Cheltenham putting some effort in at both ends of the park.
    • 62' Jombarti wins the ball from Tootle. Crewe's passing game has collapsed since the opening 20 minutes.
    • 61' Steve Davis has the jacket off. Trying to encourage his side to lift the tempo here by getting the passing game going.
    • 60' Excellent tackle by Garbutt to win the ball from Moore. Cheltenham deal well with the Westwood corner then the cross.
    • 59' Brown hammers a free-kick into the box. Elliott rises to head across the Crewe goal, but Dugdale is ideally positioned to win the second ball.
    • 58' Next goal in this match is going to be crucial if there is to be one. Another goal for Crewe would be a savage blow to Cheltenham after their period of dominance.
    • 57' Garbutt with a long throw-in looking for the head of Burgess, but nothing doing there. Bennett nudges Leitch-Smith off the ball at the other end.
    • 56' Brown has not seen much of the ball since the first half. He slides out to grab the loose ball with Leitch-Smith loitering.
    • 55' Summerfield dinks the cross into the heart of the Crewe area as Phillips comes out to collect the ball.
    • 54' Phillips makes a brilliant smothering block to save from Mohamed. Looked a certain equaliser, but a poor finish really. Cheltenham's frustration goes on.
    • 53' Powell gets Pack's corner clear. Crewe not playing on the break out of choice. Being forced to play on the break really.
    • 52' McGlashan forces Mellor to concede a corner. Another corner here.
    • 51' Cheltenham certainly enjoying the upper hand now. Crewe need another goal here..it is difficult to see them holding out the way this is working out.
    • 50' Pack smashes a shot inches wide of goal from 20 yards. So unfortunate for Pack. Cheltenham again go close.
    • 49' Garbutt whips the free-kick in, but Mellor rises to head clear the danger.
    • 48' McGlashan fouled by Tootle and Cheltenham can throw another free-kick into the middle of the Crewe box here.
    • 47' Dugdale blocks the cross from Mohamed. Corner flies across the goal. Artell is on the deck needing treatment here. Cheltenham are a big, physical side. They are making life very difficult for Crewe in the air.
    • 46' Cheltenham get the second period off and running. Work to be done for them in this half.
    • 45+3' The whistle sounds for the break. A 1-0 lead for Crewe. Cheltenham should be level at the break. but Crewe head for the dressing room holding a vital advantage.
    • 45+1' Elliott sees a header cleared off the line by Powell before Westwood blocks the drive by Mohamed on the line. So close to the equaliser, but Crewe somehow survive.
    • 44' We are into three minutes of time added on here in the first half.
    • 43' Another chance for Cheltenham as Mohamed slashes at a loose ball in the area and ends up lifting the shot miles over the bar from close range. Another great chance for the equaliser goes missing.
    • 42' Goudling sees a header tipped over the bar from Pack's corner. Phillips kept his eye on that to make the save.
    • 41' Robins boss Yates enjoyed promotion through the play-offs with Cheltenham as a player, being part of the side that beat Rushden 3-1 at the Millennium Stadium in May 2002.
    • 40' Mellor heads over the bar from Westwood's corner. That is a disappointing finish from that range. Should have been a second goal for Crewe, but the chance is passed up.
    • 39' Elliott heads behind his own goal from Westwood's corner. Crewe piling a few more bodies forward.
    • 38' Garbutt makes a solid tackle to win the ball from Powell before Bennett cuts out the cross from Leitch-Smith. Another corner for Crewe.
    • 37' Artell wallops the ball down field to Cheltenham after the game restarts.
    • 36' Murphy is on the deck here after connecting late with McGlashan. A brave challenge by the young Crewe player.
    • 35' Powell drills a shot inches wide with his right foot. Superb effort from the goalscorer. Almost a second goal for Crewe from outside of the box.
    • 34' Moore picks out Leitch-Smith as Garbutt comes across to concede the corner with a timely block.
    • 33' Tootle takes up a good position in the Cheltenham box, but he is crowded out by a posse of red shirts.
    • 32' Both teams taking a minute's break here to take on water. Shows how hot it is down on the pitch. Must be like a furnace.
    • 31' Goudling lifts the ball over the bar under pressure from Dugdale. Burgess again wins the first ball in the area. That was a chance and a poor finish.
    • 30' The balance of this game has changed since Crewe netted the opener. Difficult to predict with any great certainty how this will work out.
    • 29' Crewe were in the bottom five in mid-September, but only rose into the top seven in the last three games of the regular season.
    • 28' The high ball seems to be the key for Cheltenham. McGlashan makes a good dash forward as Phillips comes out to collect.
    • 27' Cheltenham earn their first corner of the game from Pack's long throw-in. Burgess penalised for foul play in the area.
    • 26' Garbutt with a fine ball into the middle. Burgess just fails to connect. All very positive this from Cheltenham.
    • 25' Better signs for Cheltenham as Mohamed smacks an effort over from Burgess's headed flick on. Burgess beginning to cause havoc.
    • 24' Goulding scores for Cheltenham, but the offside flag goes up from Burgess's header on. He was offside. Correct decision.
    • 23' Dario Gradi an interested spectator in the stands as Crewe continue to try to push the Robins back.
    • 22' Crewe boss Steve Davis looking the happier man in the heat. Mark Yates trying to work out his best formation.
    • 21' Tootle feeds Leitch-Smith before Tootle has his pocket picked in the area.
    • 20' Cheltenham, who have never met the Railwaymen outside a regular league game, last beat them in August 2010, with a 3-2 win at Whaddon Road.
    • 19' Westwood picks out Powell, but this time he can only nudge the ball tamely into the path of Brown in the Cheltenham goal.
    • 18' Warning signs out for Crewe then. Lots of life in this game then. Mohamed off the park getting a spot of treatment.
    • 17' Goulding hits the crossbar with a howitzer! So unfortunate for Cheltenham. 35 yards left Phillips with no chance before Burgess and McGlashan collide.
    • 16' The 18-year-old shows his ability with that finish. Crewe off and running in this final. Can't say it was not deserved.
    • 15' GOAL! Powell smacks home a blistering volley from the edge of the box. Brilliant finish. No chance for Brown and Crewe have the lead at Wembley.
    • 14' McGlashan brings down Mellor with a late challenge. Cheltenham at least getting out of their half after a strong start by Crewe.
    • 13' Moore throws in a decent cross from out wide. Easy enough take for Brown in the Cheltenham goal.
    • 12' McGlashan looking lively early on as he feeds Goulding whose shot is blocked. Cheltenham slowly but surely coming to life.
    • 11' McGlashan stings the palms of Phillips in the Crewe goal with a driven shot. First real attacking move from Cheltenham. Better movement from them.
    • 10' Crewe are looking for a fourth successive win over the Robins. They won 8-1 at Gresty Road in April 2011, and registered two 1-0 wins in League Two this season.
    • 9' Crewe the dominant force in this match so far as Leitch-Smith wallops a shot wide. Cheltenham can't get out of their own half.
    • 8' Murphy drives the ball at goal from distance. Easy enough take for Brown.
    • 7' Westwood feeds Murphy, who fails to control the ball. Leitch-Smith loses it again for Crewe seconds later. Cheltenham giving the ball away cheaply.
    • 6' Murphy with a long ball from the back. Moore just fails to keep it in play. Crewe looking the likelier side early on.
    • 5' Artell penalised for a spot of pushing in the area from Westwood's free-kick. On we go. No score yet.
    • 4' Summerfield catches Powell late and Crewe have a free-kick here. Chance to throw the ball into the danger area.
    • 3' This is only the 15th meeting of these teams. Crewe have won eight, drawn two and lost four of the previous 14.
    • 2' Powell looking lively for Crewe in the opening seconds before Mohamed fires a shot wide of goal from distance. Both teams looking up for this one.
    • 1' Glorious day for fooball. Possibly too hot really for an all-action game, but we will see how it works out. Crewe get the action off and running.
    • 14.57 Here are the odds in case you fancy a flutter: Cheltenham (15/8), Crewe (13/8), Draw (12/5)
    • 14.55 Teams heading out on the pitch. Both clubs playing at the New Wembley for the first time.
    • 14.50 Steve Davis (Crewe boss): "I didn't imagine it would lead to this. I hoped that it would, but you never know how the players are going to take to a new manager and respond to new ideas. Even in the cup game against Colchester, for those first 20 minutes you could see a different group. We were unfortunate in that game, we had a man sent off, but we put that right in the next league game against Morecambe with a fantastic win and it's gone from there. We've lost four in 31 games..phenomenal."
    • 14.45 Mark Yates (Cheltenham manager): "It's been a great club for me. As a player and manager I've loved it and getting promotion would be unbelievable. Would I rather be going to Portsmouth and Coventry or York and Fleetwood? Of course there's only one answer. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it but the 90 minutes will decide where we are. If we go up, we'll be ready for it."
    • 14.40 Crewe include captain David Artell and midfielder Luke Murphy. Artell was a surprise inclusion at centre-back for the second-leg of the semi-final triumph over Southend, having suffered a broken metatarsal in training ahead of the first game at Gresty Road. The 31-year-old received encouraging news when an x-ray after the game showed the bone had not moved and he will be able to lead his side out at Wembley if that prognosis remains unchanged.
    • 14.35 Luke Garbutt will make a timely return to Cheltenham's starting line-up. The on-loan Everton left-back missed both legs of the Robins' semi-final meetings with Torquay due to a muscle strain, but has declared himself fit for Sunday's promotion decider. Keith Lowe deputised for Garbutt for both games against the Gulls, Mark Yates' men triumphing 4-1 on aggregate, but the 26-year-old may have to be content with a place on the bench at the national stadium.
    • 14.30 Teams: Cheltenham: Brown, Jombati, Bennett, Elliott, Garbutt, McGlashan, Pack, Summerfield, Mohamed, Goulding, Burgess..subs: Lowe, Duffy, Smikle, Spencer, Penn////Crewe: Phillips, Tootle, Artell, Dugdale, Davis, Mellor, Westwood, Murphy, Moore, Leitch-Smith, Powell..subs: Alan Martin, Bell, Carl Martin, Clayton, Bodin////Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
    • 14.25 Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of the League Two play-off final between Cheltenham and Crewe from Wembley Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 81' GOAL! Leitch-Smith slides the ball into the path of Moore, who slides the ball beyond Brown. Crewe lead 2-0. That should be that.
    • 80' Moore earns himself some space from Westwood's corner, but he succeeds in screwing the shot wide of goal. Was a chance to finish matters off.
    • 54' Phillips makes a brilliant smothering block to save from Mohamed. Looked a certain equaliser, but a poor finish really. Cheltenham's frustration goes on.
    • 50' Pack smashes a shot inches wide of goal from 20 yards. So unfortunate for Pack. Cheltenham again go close.
    • 45+1' Elliott sees a header cleared off the line by Powell before Westwood blocks the drive by Mohamed on the line. So close to the equaliser, but Crewe somehow survive.
    • 43' Another chance for Cheltenham as Mohamed slashes at a loose ball in the area and ends up lifting the shot miles over the bar from close range. Another great chance for the equaliser goes missing.
    • 42' Goudling sees a header tipped over the bar from Pack's corner. Phillips kept his eye on that to make the save.
    • 40' Mellor heads over the bar from Westwood's corner. That is a disappointing finish from that range. Should have been a second goal for Crewe, but the chance is passed up.
    • 35' Powell drills a shot inches wide with his right foot. Superb effort from the goalscorer. Almost a second goal for Crewe from outside of the box.
    • 31' Goudling lifts the ball over the bar under pressure from Dugdale. Burgess again wins the first ball in the area. That was a chance and a poor finish.
    • 17' Goulding hits the crossbar with a howitzer! So unfortunate for Cheltenham. 35 yards left Phillips with no chance before Burgess and McGlashan collide.
    • 15' GOAL! Powell smacks home a blistering volley from the edge of the box. Brilliant finish. No chance for Brown and Crewe have the lead at Wembley.
    • 11' McGlashan stings the palms of Phillips in the Crewe goal with a driven shot. First real attacking move from Cheltenham. Better movement from them.
    • 14.30 Teams: Cheltenham: Brown, Jombati, Bennett, Elliott, Garbutt, McGlashan, Pack, Summerfield, Mohamed, Goulding, Burgess..subs: Lowe, Duffy, Smikle, Spencer, Penn////Crewe: Phillips, Tootle, Artell, Dugdale, Davis, Mellor, Westwood, Murphy, Moore, Leitch-Smith, Powell..subs: Alan Martin, Bell, Carl Martin, Clayton, Bodin////Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

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Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. Wow!! Calling all Railwaymen. What a super day we had­ at Wembley. The Team and the fans were unbelievable.­ Well done everyone - Players, Steve, backroom staff and­ well done fans for such wonderful support. Once again­ WHAT A DAY - one to remember. COME ON THE ALEX.

    From BRIAN, on Mon 28 May 15:56

  2. Happy for Crewe , WELL DONE !!!

    From yeh yeh yeh, on Mon 28 May 9:54

  3. Congratulations Crewe. We'll join you next season.­ Having offloaded Richards, provided we lose no more of­ our best players, we should get promotion. TWOY

    From Pete Morgan, on Sun 27 May 21:53

  4. I am strongly tipping Crewe for back-to-back­ promotions, after what the new boss has done, they are­ unbeaten in 19 going into League One, and if they­ continue to play with confidence and play the lovely­ football they have been playing, I feel that they will­ at least grab a play-off spot next season!

    From CHARLIE, on Sun 27 May 19:29

  5. Well Done to Crewe. We'll see you at Bramall Lane­ next season (Mainly due to the S6 pig appointed as­ 'manager'!!, by the 'Not fit for­ purpose' board we have at Our Club).

    From Offenon, on Sun 27 May 17:26

  6. What a season i've had.three teams i look for and­ follow when local,D & R. Q.P.R.,both stayed up, and­ darling little Crewe,no money,small support,but the­ life blood of football [Chelsea would not know what­ that was } getting up a flite,well done "the ALEXS­ "

    From ROBERT, on Sun 27 May 17:07

  7. Could have been Gillingham !

    From RICHARD, on Sun 27 May 17:03
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I love trolling on here, everyone gets so butthurt.

    From Squadbeaver Games, on Sun 27 May 16:55
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Come on Chelsea!

    From Squadbeaver Games, on Sun 27 May 16:50

  10. thanks very much andrew P!

    From James, on Sun 27 May 16:14

  11. my hubby has gone to the game with his mate john who is­ from crewe,hubby is a sunderland man,same colours come­ on you alex.

    From Mike P., on Sun 27 May 16:09

  12. James - First Row Sports

    From Andrew P, on Sun 27 May 16:05

  13. James - First Row Sports

    From Andrew P, on Sun 27 May 16:05

  14. does anyone know where i can watch this online in the­ US? i know its on Fox but the TV has cut out

    From James, on Sun 27 May 15:39

  15. Do a little dance make a little noise... Come the­ alex!!! Come the alex!!!!!

    From PAUL, on Sun 27 May 15:25

  16. 5 NIL TO THE RAILWAYMEN EASY

    From Gary, on Sun 27 May 15:15

  17. Come on you Rubies! Wish I was there to watch the lads!

    From Ian, on Sun 27 May 15:15

  18. COME ON THE ALEX DO US PROUD!!!!!!!

    From PAUL, on Sun 27 May 15:09
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