This Is Cheshire

The best it's been at home this season

From the Guardian Series, first published Thursday 28th Nov 2002.

Crewe...3 Blackpool...0

AN attacking display of football earned Crewe their fourth successive victory, last Saturday.

Blackpool were crushed in THE home performance of the season with Alex fans treated to a relaxing final 15 minutes, a rarity in recent times.

With two in two, Dean Ashton had earned his start and alongside Rob Hulse and Rodney Jack, it looked a potent team on paper.

It didn't take long to put this into practise as Dave Brammer beat his man down the left and put in the perfect ball for Hulse to tap home his 18th on 7 minutes.

Crewe had made a quality start and it could have been more early on with keeper Barnes doing well to deny an Ashton blockbuster and then Steve Foster rattling the bar with a header off Kenny Lunt's corner.

Failure to capitalise sparked a brief Blackpool rally although Clayton Ince had little to worry about apart from a long-range drive from Southern, which he scrambled away.

It was ended within the space of 4 minutes as Mark Hills completely lost it, first earning a booking for kicking out at Sodje and then seeing his second yellow and walking for practically throwing Jack to the ground.

Steve McMahon was irate and hammered the linesmen. He had no cause - it was a certain dismissal.

Crewe had chances for that second goal, Hulse delayed his final ball to an unmarked Jack in the centre and Ashton saw another power effort blocked.

It was a sign of things to come with the Alex relentless in the second half.

Man-of-the-match Paul Tierney moved into midfield and proved a revelation, making Crewe's second goal and bagging the third himself.

Pretty much game, set and match as early as 57 minutes with a delighted Sodje beating his marker to head home Tierney's in-swinging corner.

Six minutes later, the on-loan left-back sealed it by putting a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom far corner.

Although the points were secure, Crewe continued their assault with Blackpool well and truly deflated.

Crewe: Ince, Sodje (Walker 87), Tierney, Foster, Walton, Lunt, Brammer (Sorvel 65), Vaughan, Jack, Hulse (White 74), Ashton. Subs not used: Bankole, Jones.

Attendance - 7,019.

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