Colchester United 1-1 Crewe Alexandra

Last updated on 27 April 2024.From the section League Two49

Crewe boss Lee Bell — Lee Bell has been Crewe manager since December 2022

Crewe clinched a play-off spot following a 1-1 draw at Colchester, who confirmed their League Two status.

Arthur Read's shot flew straight at Crewe goalkeeper Max Stryjek early on before Colchester took a 35th-minute lead.

Noah Chilvers collected Ellis Iandolo's pass and brilliantly turned past Ryan Cooney just inside the Crewe half before advancing toward goal and unleashing a fine low shot past Stryjek at his near post.

Crewe looked for an immediate response and almost got one when Matus Holicek planted a weak shot straight at keeper Sam Hornby from a good position in the area.

Rio Adebisi blasted over at the near post early in the second half for Alex, who had a penalty appeal rejected when Mickey Demetriou appeared to be pulled back by Fiacre Kelleher in the area.

Elliott Nevitt's 25-yard strike flew just wide of the target for Alex before the striker converted substitute Charlie Kirk's cross in the first minute of stoppage time as the visitors sealed a play-off place.

Crewe boss Lee Bell said he had been through "all of the emotions" during the game.

"Two or three weeks ago, we had 14 players out injured and they just find a way the players, they stick together and I've said in the past, that's their biggest strength. I'm delighted for the players," he added.

"It's not luck that we score goals after 90 minutes - this group are amazing."

Colchester head coach Danny Cowley said the week leading up to the game had been "like torture".

He continued: "We actually played really well for large parts and I still don't know how we don't win that game, we were in such a good place in the game. I suppose it was typical us really, that we give such a soft goal away.

"I've inherited two relegation battles, one at Huddersfield Town and one here, and I've been fortunate enough to be successful in both."

Match report supplied by PA Media.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Colchester

Formation 4-2-3-1

29Hornby
20Mingi
4KelleherBooked at 62mins
5Hall
3Iandolo
13McGeehan
16Read
42Fevrier
14Hopper
10Chilvers
24AkindeSubstituted forHarbottleat 68'minutes

Substitutes

1Goodman
7Jay
8Wilkinson
22Harbottle
26Richardson
37Cooper
48Ihionvien

Crewe

Formation 4-2-3-1

42Stryjek
2CooneySubstituted forKirkat 81'minutes
4Williams
5Demetriou
3Adebisi
11Tabiner
28Billington
10TraceySubstituted forBaker-Richardsonat 71'minutes
17HolícekSubstituted forAusterfieldat 45'minutes
7LongSubstituted forRoweat 45'minutesBooked at 49mins
20Nevitt

Substitutes

9Baker-Richardson
21Rowe
24Finney
25Austerfield
30Kirk
33Agius
40Lenarcik

Referee:: Lewis Smith
Attendance:: 6,491

Match Stats

Home TeamColchesterAway TeamCrewe

Possession: Home42%; Away58%

Shots: Home15; Away9

Shots on Target: Home5; Away5

Corners: Home2; Away3

Fouls: Home7; Away12

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Colchester United 1, Crewe Alexandra 1.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Colchester United 1, Crewe Alexandra 1.

90'+2'
Goal!
Goal! Colchester United 1, Crewe Alexandra 1. Elliott Nevitt (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt saved. Elliott Nevitt (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Charlie Kirk with a cross.
87'
Post update
Offside, Colchester United. Jayden Fevrier is caught offside.
86'
Post update
Foul by Aaron Rowe (Crewe Alexandra).
86'
Post update
Tom Hopper (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'
Post update
Charlie Kirk (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'
Post update
Foul by Jade Jay Mingi (Colchester United).
85'
Post update
Attempt saved. Mickey Demetriou (Crewe Alexandra) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Charlie Kirk with a cross.
84'
Post update
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Connor Hall.
84'
Post update
Attempt missed. Jayden Fevrier (Colchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Noah Chilvers following a set piece situation.
83'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Arthur Read (Colchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
82'
Post update
Foul by Elliott Nevitt (Crewe Alexandra).
82'
Post update
Arthur Read (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81'
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Charlie Kirk replaces Ryan Cooney.
78'
Post update
Foul by Elliott Nevitt (Crewe Alexandra).
78'
Post update
Cameron McGeehan (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77'
Post update
Attempt missed. Jade Jay Mingi (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jayden Fevrier.
76'
Post update
Attempt missed. Elliott Nevitt (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

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49 comments

Comment posted by tuppy, at 18:24 27 Apr
Well done Colchester. Let's not do this again.
Comment posted by polonius948, at 18:55 27 Apr
Great atmosphere and a big crowd at the Community Stadium today. If the U's can unearth a half decent target man from somewhere, they really shouldn't be anywhere near the drop zone next season.
Well done Alex, good luck v Donny. You'll need it I think.
Reply posted by Jonno, at 19:28 27 Apr
Jonno replied:
Thanks for the well done. Any team needs some luck. At least we have players coming back from injury now. I saw Danny Murphy make his league debut at Colchester. A steward also complimented Crewe on their football back then, so thank you. You have an excellent manager and will do much better 2024/25.
Comment posted by Ben, at 20:45 27 Apr
Great performance from the U’s. The Cowleys mean business! This season or the next they are here’s to make things happen. They’re not here to make friends! They are here to do a job and I support them…
Good luck gentlemen. It’s tough following the Us but you’re making me keep the emotional investment.
Well done Crewe! Good luck! Ksnf this why we love football? 😵‍💫😵‍💫
Good luck all.
Comment posted by Mister Zed, at 20:07 27 Apr
Congratulations to Crewe from a U's fan. You always play proper football. The last couple of minutes after you equalised were a treat to watch.
Reply posted by sjfox78, at 20:36 27 Apr
sjfox78 replied:
Honest football from both side helped by a referee who had a good grip of the and only 1 yellow for each side.
Comment posted by Seahouses Pompey, at 19:42 27 Apr
Well done Colchester. Pompey fan here and with Danny and Nicky at the helm I’m convinced you’ll be toying with the play offs next season.
Comment posted by Nickcolu5, at 22:38 27 Apr
Tough season again but we’re looking better. Key signings and a Cowleys pre- season should mean improvement. Good luck to the Alex in the play offs.
Comment posted by Remember the Alamo, at 21:56 27 Apr
Imps fan here, well done Danny and Nicky, next season you will do well I'm sure.
Reply posted by kitincal, at 02:26 28 Apr
kitincal replied:
Pompey fan also pleased for Danny and Nicky.
Comment posted by eaglemark, at 19:58 27 Apr
Well done u’s. The performances in the last 12 games should have produced a lot more points. Careless mistakes and Lady Luck prevented that from happening. Danny Cowley needs to recruit 3 or 4 decent players with a winning mentality and that should mean a play off place next season hopefully
Comment posted by vic park, at 19:37 27 Apr
Well done you U’s.
Count Alucard will be relieved ... again.
Haven’t heard from him for a while on HYS.
Hope you are well mate.
Reply posted by Optimus Prime, at 19:52 27 Apr
Optimus Prime replied:
Thanks I've changed my username to this one fella. Hopefully your Pools will come back to the EFL soon
Comment posted by Wabbit , at 18:39 27 Apr
Congratulations, Colchester (from a Leicester fan)! Should never have been down there!
Reply posted by Alan, at 18:44 27 Apr
Alan replied:
Result is n the pitch don’t tell lies , that why they where down there
Comment posted by Thumbs up from Garnacho, at 18:27 27 Apr
Only the 2nd league goal since the beginning of April, Crewe need to be better than that to get anywhere in the play offs.
Comment posted by Para-para-paradise-woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-uh-oh, at 18:27 27 Apr
Well done, Crewe!!! Talk about limping over the line. But with March and April now banished to history, let's have a rollicking May!!!
Comment posted by Polar Bear, at 18:57 27 Apr
Great atmosphere at the ground today. Wish it was like that more often. We survived, Crewe in the play-offs, so each team happy. Hopefully the Cowleys can build for next season so that we can finish in the top half of the league rather than the bottm half. AND that pitch needs to be sorted out before next season!
Comment posted by sjfox78, at 20:56 27 Apr
As Bell pointed out to McGarry at the end of the match many of the points that got Crewe into the playoffs were from late equalisers much earlier in the season. Crewe did it again for the first time in a while. Hope the belief is returning.
Comment posted by devils advocate, at 00:19 28 Apr
So the end of season awards were presented so only the prawn sandwich brigade could see it. They could have done it in the centre circle so everyone could see it. Nice to be valued!

PS look forward to next season under the Cowleys and new drainage for the pitch.
Comment posted by rogerandout, at 18:56 27 Apr
Colchester , 2 seasons on the trot just missed the drop , big changes needed or 3rd time unlucky for them .
Reply posted by Optimus Prime, at 20:37 27 Apr
Optimus Prime replied:
DC is already outlining what and who he wants. Should be a vast improvement next season.
Comment posted by Andy, at 18:43 27 Apr
Excellent result U's, onwards and upwards and let's not be the perennial strugglers. By the way, Wormy, Wormy where for art thou Wormy. Hopefully you'll be quieter now
Reply posted by Boris, at 19:00 27 Apr
Boris replied:
If Wormy McWormface dares to comment here, even under one of his aliases, he will get downvoted, which is about all he deserves.
Comment posted by Steve manser, at 12:13 28 Apr
Relieved all worked out for the U's in the end-plenty of work to do over the summer to build on what I've always seen as a Col utd team under achieving these last 4 seasons..not as bad as the league dictated but a lack of experience-an out and out striker...and the biggest one -Mental ability to hold on to a lead and control the game....mid table would be lovely next season...maybe better. .
Reply posted by Matt, at 12:38 28 Apr
Matt replied:
We had a striker in the first half of the season but didn't use him properly and he left.

In a Cowley team with the chances we've been creating he'd have scored goals. Lots of goals. We need another Joe Taylor!
Comment posted by StevosTV, at 18:42 27 Apr
Playoffs by the skin of our teeth! Are we really going to beat Doncaster over two legs who knows stranger things have happened?
Reply posted by Animo Et Fide , at 18:55 27 Apr
Animo Et Fide replied:
Not a chance, your form is abysmal. You'll get steamrollered by Donny.
Comment posted by chrisstrickett, at 19:00 27 Apr
Well pleased for cowleys class comments from pup

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Stockport	46	27	11	8	96	48	48	92
2	Wrexham	46	26	10	10	89	52	37	88
3	Mansfield	46	24	14	8	90	47	43	86

4	MK Dons	46	23	9	14	83	68	15	78
5	Doncaster	46	21	8	17	73	68	5	71
6	Crewe	46	19	14	13	69	65	4	71
7	Crawley	46	21	7	18	73	67	6	70

8	Barrow	46	18	15	13	62	56	6	69
9	Bradford	46	19	12	15	61	59	2	69
10	Wimbledon	46	17	14	15	64	51	13	65
11	Walsall	46	18	11	17	69	73	-4	65
12	Gillingham	46	18	10	18	46	57	-11	64
13	Harrogate	46	17	12	17	60	69	-9	63
14	Notts County	46	18	7	21	89	86	3	61
15	Morecambe	46	17	10	19	67	81	-14	58
16	Tranmere	46	17	6	23	67	70	-3	57
17	Accrington	46	16	9	21	63	71	-8	57
18	Newport	46	16	7	23	62	76	-14	55
19	Swindon	46	14	12	20	77	83	-6	54
20	Salford	46	13	12	21	66	82	-16	51
21	Grimsby	46	11	16	19	57	74	-17	49
22	Colchester	46	11	12	23	59	80	-21	45

23	Sutton United	46	9	15	22	59	84	-25	42
24	Forest Green	46	11	9	26	44	78	-34	42

Line-ups

Colchester

Substitutes

Crewe

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by tuppy, at 18:24 27 Aprtuppy

Comment posted by polonius948, at 18:55 27 Aprpolonius948

Reply posted by Jonno, at 19:28 27 AprJonno

Comment posted by Ben, at 20:45 27 AprBen

Comment posted by Mister Zed, at 20:07 27 AprMister Zed

Reply posted by sjfox78, at 20:36 27 Aprsjfox78

Comment posted by Seahouses Pompey, at 19:42 27 AprSeahouses Pompey

Comment posted by Nickcolu5, at 22:38 27 AprNickcolu5

Comment posted by Remember the Alamo, at 21:56 27 AprRemember the Alamo

Reply posted by kitincal, at 02:26 28 Aprkitincal

Comment posted by eaglemark, at 19:58 27 Apreaglemark

Comment posted by vic park, at 19:37 27 Aprvic park

Reply posted by Optimus Prime, at 19:52 27 AprOptimus Prime

Comment posted by Wabbit , at 18:39 27 AprWabbit

Reply posted by Alan, at 18:44 27 AprAlan

Comment posted by Thumbs up from Garnacho, at 18:27 27 AprThumbs up from Garnacho

Comment posted by Para-para-paradise-woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-uh-oh, at 18:27 27 AprPara-para-paradise-woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-uh-oh

Comment posted by Polar Bear, at 18:57 27 AprPolar Bear

Comment posted by sjfox78, at 20:56 27 Aprsjfox78

Comment posted by devils advocate, at 00:19 28 Aprdevils advocate

Comment posted by rogerandout, at 18:56 27 Aprrogerandout

Reply posted by Optimus Prime, at 20:37 27 AprOptimus Prime

Comment posted by Andy, at 18:43 27 AprAndy

Reply posted by Boris, at 19:00 27 AprBoris

Comment posted by Steve manser, at 12:13 28 AprSteve manser

Reply posted by Matt, at 12:38 28 AprMatt

Comment posted by StevosTV, at 18:42 27 AprStevosTV

Reply posted by Animo Et Fide , at 18:55 27 AprAnimo Et Fide

Comment posted by chrisstrickett, at 19:00 27 Aprchrisstrickett

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Comment posted by tuppy, at 18:24 27 Apr

Comment posted by polonius948, at 18:55 27 Apr

Reply posted by Jonno, at 19:28 27 Apr

Comment posted by Ben, at 20:45 27 Apr

Comment posted by Mister Zed, at 20:07 27 Apr

Reply posted by sjfox78, at 20:36 27 Apr

Comment posted by Seahouses Pompey, at 19:42 27 Apr

Comment posted by Nickcolu5, at 22:38 27 Apr

Comment posted by Remember the Alamo, at 21:56 27 Apr

Reply posted by kitincal, at 02:26 28 Apr

Comment posted by eaglemark, at 19:58 27 Apr

Comment posted by vic park, at 19:37 27 Apr

Reply posted by Optimus Prime, at 19:52 27 Apr

Comment posted by Wabbit , at 18:39 27 Apr

Reply posted by Alan, at 18:44 27 Apr

Comment posted by Thumbs up from Garnacho, at 18:27 27 Apr

Comment posted by Para-para-paradise-woh-oh-oh-oh-oh-uh-oh, at 18:27 27 Apr

Comment posted by Polar Bear, at 18:57 27 Apr

Comment posted by sjfox78, at 20:56 27 Apr

Comment posted by devils advocate, at 00:19 28 Apr

Comment posted by rogerandout, at 18:56 27 Apr

Reply posted by Optimus Prime, at 20:37 27 Apr

Comment posted by Andy, at 18:43 27 Apr

Reply posted by Boris, at 19:00 27 Apr

Comment posted by Steve manser, at 12:13 28 Apr

Reply posted by Matt, at 12:38 28 Apr

Comment posted by StevosTV, at 18:42 27 Apr

Reply posted by Animo Et Fide , at 18:55 27 Apr

Comment posted by chrisstrickett, at 19:00 27 Apr