‘I’d expect them to sit back now,’ said Dave after Crewe went ahead, ‘but I don’t see how they can go back any further’. He had a point; Rovers had dominated the opening quarter but somehow found themselves behind to Marcus Haber’s tap-in.
Rovers should’ve levelled sooner than they did as Nathan Tyson somehow volleyed James Coppinger’s pin-point cross into the North Stand from three yards out. His blushes were spared by Conor Grant; the loanee making a much more effective connection to another Coppinger delivery for 1-1.
In the second half Rovers showed merit and possession, but lacked cut-through, whilst Crewe showed flashes. But nothing came until the Black Bank heralded ‘Fergie Time’ and then everything everywhere was goals.
With ninety on the clock Crewe got in behind Cedric Evina for a second time and a second goal ; Callum Saunders scoring a presumed winner. Instead it was merely an appetiser.
92 minutes; a free-kick. Cameron Stewart placed the ball and curled an unstoppable free-kick over the wall and into the top corner for a last gasp equaliser.
Or so we thought. A minute later Aaron Taylor-Sinclair sent a hail-Mary downfield. Andy Williams was first to the ball; managing to shuffle it into enough space on the edge of the area to curl a glorious left foot shot into the back of the net and send spray flying, ecstatic fans into the arms of strangers, and your reporter into a merry jig in the rain. Football’s alright, you know.
by Glen Wilson
popular STAND fanzine 