Youngsters beaten 4-1 at WHCS.
The U's U23s have been beaten 4-1 by Crewe in their latest league fixture.Most of the goalmouth action came in the first half, with the visitors to north Essex gaining a 3-1 lead.
Crewe striker Callum Saunders helped himself to two, while fellow forward Daniel Udoh flicked home for the third.
Denny Johnstone had equalised for the U's, but they had been on the back foot for much of the first period.
The second half saw the U's go close with Femi Akinwande clipping the post but another Udoh goal at the end gave Crewe their 4-1 victory.
The young U’s started the game on the front foot, keeping good possession and trying to find gaps in the Crewe defence.
It was the visitors that had the first real opening of the game though, with a move down the right on five minutes ending with full back Bullock shooting wide when he really should have at least tested James Bransgrove in the U’s goal.
He made amends five minutes later, putting in a perfect cross to the far post for Callum Saunders to head home to give Crewe the lead.
In an entertaining start, the U’s then lost possession and Daniel Udoh shot straight at Bransgrove before the U’s went straight down the other end and got an equaliser.
Denny Johnstone got in on the angle and a smart finish nestled in the back of the net with only fourteen minutes on the clock.
The goal boosted the U’s and Dion Sembie-Ferris just failed to get a shot away, before two more shots were blocked and Callum Harrison’s volley flew wide of the target.
At this stage, both teams were looking to get forward at every opportunity and it was the visitors that once again took the lead.
A long diagonal ball found Udoh and a great first touch and low cross meant a simple sliding finish for Saunders to double his tally.
The visitors had their tails up now and Ben Wyatt had to block well from one effort, before a thirty yard volley stung the hands of Bransgrove before he took it at the second attempt.
Two more chances went to Crewe on the half hour mark, with Bransgrove again having to save from a long range effort before Udoh missed a gilt edged chance with his right foot.
Four minutes before half time, he got the goal he deserved as he finished well with a flick from another right wing cross from full back Bullock.
The second half started as the first had finished, with Crewe on the front foot, and they almost got a fourth when a clever corner routine ended with Ryan Wintle shooting just wide.
In a rare home attack, Johnstone cut inside but could only fire his shot straight at Richards in the fifty fourth minute.
Crewe continued to pepper the U’s goal with efforts and they needed a block from Dexter Peter, a late deflection and an offside flag to prevent them going another goal behind before the hour mark was reached.
Femi Akinwande broke free from the Crewe defence on sixty one minutes, but couldn’t get his shot past Richards after turning the last defender.
Cameron James replaced Ben Wyatt a minute later and watched on from the back as Diaz Wright was denied by the fingertips of Richards.
Bransgrove made an equally good save on sixty seven minutes, tipping wide from Saunders after excellent running from midfielder Perry Ng.
Chris Regis and Decarrey Sheriff came on for Harrison and Johnstone as the U’s looked for a way back in the game, and they almost did when Akinwande clipped the outside of the post from the edge of the box.
Crewe made the game safe with six minutes remaining though, as Udoh slammed home from close range after Bullock was denied a goal that his attacking play probably deserved.
The game finished with Akinwande shooting wide but it would have been scant consolation on a night that the young U’s were well beaten by their fellow League Two side.
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