FA CUP FIRST ROUND CARLISLE’S DEVITT ENDS ALEX’S CUP HOPES WITH LATE WINNER
KEEPER Ben Garratt turned from hero to villain as Crewe Alex were knocked out of the FA Cup at Gresty Road.
The goalkeeper, who was named man-of-the-match, made a super penalty save in the first half to deny Danny Grainger and keep the Railwaymen in the first round proper tie.
But in the 90th minute his poor clearance, after receiving an unhelpful backpass from Kevin O’connor, was charged down by Jamie Devitt and trickled over the line for a winner.
It was a miserable way for Crewe to bow out of the cup, and another blank drawn by their misfiring strikers.
It means the Alex have now lost three on the spin, without scoring a goal.
Manager David Artell made five changes to his side.
Top-scorer Jordan Bowery and strike partner Shaun Miller were dropped to the bench, and replaced by Chris Porter and Alex Nicholls.
Kevin O’connor, Eddie Nolan and Nicky Hunt were recalled to defence, with Corey Whelan, Ryan Wintle and Callum Ainley making way.
That meant Perry Ng and Harry Pickering were pushed into central midfield, with Charlie Kirk and Oliver Finney wide.
James Jones had recovered sufficiently from a hamstring pull to take his place on the bench, but there was no spot for Wintle.
Carlisle made two changes, with striker Hallam Hope back in the line-up as well as Regan Slater.
Porter had fluffed two decent opportunities, and Jamie Devitt had gone close from range twice at the other end, before the game was given a boost on 24 minutes.
Jerry Yates and Slater were involved in a slick Carlisle move which got Hope in close. His strike was saved by Garratt, but the keeper was then adjudged to have felled Richie Bennett as the striker looked to put the rebound in.
Danny Grainger, the United skipper, took responsibility and he saw his well-hit effort superbly saved by Garratt,
CREWE ALEXANDRA