AINLEY LEAVES IT LATE TO SEAL DRAMATIC SUCCESS FOR ALEX
CALLUM Ainley scored deep into stoppage time to give Crewe Alex victory over Newport County.
Recalled for his first start in five games, he drilled home in the last few seconds to complete a last-ditch comeback.
Jordan Bowery had given the Railwaymen a first-half lead with his first goal in 10 outings, but the Exiles were 2-1 up thanks to Antoine Semenyo and Padraig Amond with less than 15 minutes to go.
But the Alex kept fighting, and got level on 88 minutes when Chris Porter scored his fifth goal from as many games from the penalty spot.
And Ainley sent the crowd wild when he clinched it as the clock tricked down.
It made it three home wins on the spin for Crewe, who are up to 14th in League Two.
Crewe were forced into one change.
Midfielder Paul Green twisted an ankle in training on Friday and missed out. That meant a recall to the starting line up for Ainley.
The game came too soon for Eddie Nolan (calf) so Nicky Hunt continued in the heart of defence.
The first real chance of the game came on 12 minutes. Ainley jinked between two defenders, burst through the gap and crossed to the far post where Chris Porter stretched but could only fire over from five yards.
Crewe seemed to adopt a shoot-on-sight policy after that, with Ryan Wintle, Perry Ng and Ainley all trying their luck - to no avail - as they got on top.
On 34 minutes they got the breakthrough they deserved. A lovely moved saw the ball punched into the feet of Porter, who cleverly laid off to Bowery.
The striker took a touch before drilling powerfully under keeper Joe Day.
Ng made a brilliant block to deny Semenyo as Newport nearly made an instant reply, while Bowery almost got another soon after when excellent play down the right by Charlie Kirk ended with an ideal cross, but the header was weak and well saved.
On the stroke of half-time the hosts should have got another. Porter dummied and then raced onto a James Jones ball to go one-on-one with the keeper. The striker’s shot was blocked by Day’s legs and County were lucky the loose ball went safe.
The Railwaymen were good value for their lead, but it could have been more convincing.
The second half started quietly. The first close call was just before the hour when Ng drove forward and
Crewe Alexandra
stung the hands of Day with a low drive.
But Newport were making it a battle, and the Alex were playing into their hands.
The visitors got one back on 65 minutes when the ball was moved to Semenyo at the far post and he drilled it into the far corner.
And an ugly goal in the 76th minute looked to have won it for the Exiles. There looked a clear offside but the assistant did not flag and Crewe were all over the place in a mixup which ended in Garratt missing a punch and Amond forcing it home.
But the Alex, who looked dead and buried, hauled themselves back into on 88 minutes when George Ray was fouled and Porter kept his cool from the spot.
And there was yet more drama to come.
A crazy scramble saw Day make at least two saves, a Newport defender cleared off the line as Crewe desperately tried to force it home.
In the end Bowery kept his composure to tee up Ainley and he drilled home the winner to spark scenes of wild celebration. Crewe: Garratt, Ng, Hunt (Finney, 83), Ray, Pickering, Ainley (Raynes, 90), Jones, Wintle, Bowery, Porter, Kirk (Dale, 77). Subs not used: Richards, Miller, Raynes, Offord, Lowery. Newport: Day; Butler, Demetriou, Franks, Bennett; Hornbyforbes, Dolan (Bakinson, 57), Willmott (O’brien, 90), Semenyo (Sheehan, 81); Amond, Matt. Subs not used: Townsend, Pipe, Marsh-brown, Neufville.