Dario Gradi celebrated his 800th match in charge of Crewe with a fine win over
First Division high-fliers Watford.
Rodney Jack opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a clever flick. Mark
Rivers cut into the box after a surging run and his cross-shot was turned in by
the St Vincent international.
Alex youngster Dean Ashton, a £1million target for Arsenal, doubled the
scoring from Shaun Smith's corner. The 17-year-old kept his cool to prod home
among a melee of Watford defenders after 23 minutes.
Crewe attacked from the off with Rodney Jack hitting a strike at the end of a
mazy dribble but Watford goalkeeper Espen Baardsen comfortably gathered.
Then a neat move down the right saw Jack and Kenny Lunt combine well for Lunt
to find Ashton in the box but he volleyed just over.
As Alex pressed an inswinging Shaun Smith corner found Dave Walton but the
header was easy for Baardsen.
Ashton showed his class to spin inside the box and fire a terrific strike just
wide.
Just before Crewe's second strike Watford rallied and Peter Kennedy went close
with a crisp strike but giant keeper Ademole Bankole got down well to make a
good save.
Moments later Bankole set hearts fluttering among his defenders when he
dropped a simple catch but the Nigerian claimed it at the second attempt.
Then Bankole made amends in the final seconds of the half with a terrific save
at full stretch from Neil Cox's stinging free-kick.
Watford came out fighting after the break and quickly forced a corner but
Cox's driven cross was headed over the bar by Allan Nielsen.
Rivers was causing problems down the right and came desperately close to
teeing up Ashton after nutmegging Robert Page, but Darren Ward hooked it away
under pressure in the box.
Watford were still fighting and went close from another Cox corner but this
time Bankole saved at the second attempt from Heidar Helguson's shot.
A brilliant passing move worked out between Jack, Neil Sorvel and Lunt opened
up the Watford defence but Kevin Street's shot flew over the bar.
Teams:
Crewe: Bankole, Shaun Smith, Walton, Macauley (Foster 26),
Wright, Lunt, Street, Sorvel, Rivers (Little 77), Jack,
Ashton (Hulse 84).
Subs Not Used: Ince, Gannon.
Goals: Jack 15, Ashton 24.
Watford: Baardsen, Cox, Gibbs, Kennedy (Hyde 46), Page, Palmer,
Ward, Nielsen, Mooney, Smith, Helguson (Armstrong 71).
Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Easton, Cook.
Att: 6,757
Ref: P Rejer (Tipton).
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