Preston North End 10-0 Crewe

Match images here

Preston North End welcomed Crewe to Springfield’s for the second meeting between the teams this season. North End manager Steve Cowell had a strong team to choose from for the morning clash.

Crewe came to Preston with only eight players so Nick, Stewart, Jimmy and Des joined up with the Crewe squad. The game itself was mostly one sided with North End having the majority of the possession.

The first half kicked off in good fashion, North End playing some neat football cutting through the Crewe back line. The break through came around ten minutes into the match. Top scorer Andy Dodwell managed to hook a volley into the top of the net from 20 yards out which left Jimmy with no chance, the goal came from some good attacking football.

North End kept the pressure on Crewe in the opening 20 minutes as they looked for another goal. Crewe battled away on their limited resources. Two of Crewe’s players had to be carried off after they came out worse in a 50/50 challenge. Crewe’s defence started to deal with North End’s forward play, but they couldn’t keep it up for long.

The second goal for North End game towards the end of the first half as North End pressed forward. Left winger Potter played a neat one-two with Andy to latch onto the through ball to slot the ball past Jimmy. North End were two goals to the good, thoroughly deserving their lead.

Preston didn’t manage to find the net again in the first half as Crewe rode the storm for the remained of the first 45 minutes. North End manager Steve made some chances at half time, with the Millwall game in focus next week. Ash and Allan came on up front and Jimmy Higgins took his familiar role of center midfield. Pete came on to take up a defensive position.

North End started the second half in good fashion, taking the match to Crewe from the off. It didn’t take long before the goals started to rake in. In the space of 20 minutes North End scored a total of six goals to take the score line to 8-0. Ash managed to take his goal tally for the season up to three with a neat turn and strike from 15 yards.

It didn’t take Allan long before he was amongst the goals with two “Textbook” goals in quick succession. Allan took his two goals well poaching both from inside the box, that’s nine for the season for big striker. Player manager also found himself on the score sheet with a tap in from close range after some good work on the right side by Jason Dodwell.

Johnny Kershaw smashed in a sixth goal for North End, the forth of the season for the midfielder. Center back Alex Higgins also got in on the act with a well worked goal from a corner. The ball was flung in from the left side, inch perfect for Alex to nod the ball into the net at the back post.

Crewe were starting to get tired, they were chasing the game at this point. Crewe failed to create any clear cut chances until stand in striker Stewart blasted a shot over the bar from inside the box.

North End weren’t finished as they went on to score two more goals to finish the match. Andy Dodwell went to on get his hat-trick for the day, his first came from a run and shot down the left side which beat Jimmy in goal. Jimmy played a good first half only letting in two goals from a good North End side. There was nothing Jimmy could do with the final goal of the day.

Andy, who switched to the left wing at half time crossed the ball in from deep. The ball carried in the air and somehow dropped into the net from 40 yards out. North End didn’t manage to score any more goals as they finished 10-0 winners, which is the biggest win for the club.

Overall it was a brilliant footballing display ahead of the big clash against Millwall next week. Well done for everyone who took part, the team can now look forward to the crunch tie against Millwall at Springfield’s in a weeks time.