YOUTH: Crewe 2 - 1 United (aet)

Alex nick it in extra time

The youth team travel to Gresty Road tonight to face Crewe Alexandra in the first round of this season's FA Youth Cup, kick off 7pm.

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Speaking ahead of the trip, youth boss Eric Kinder said: "I think I said it when I first heard about the draw, but this is one of the toughest ties we could have been given.

"It has taken Dario Gradi something like 20 years to get his youth system to where it is now and Crewe have a wonderful history of bringing young players through.

"They play football, they work hard and they can pick you off if you don't do things properly, so we'll have to go there in the right frame of mind. 

"It'll be a great experience for all of our players to play at a proper Football League away venue and there will be a few added nerves. With this competition it comes down to who handles it properly, so we'll prepare as well as we can today and make sure everyone is in the right frame of mind.

"I genuinely love FA Cup nights and it is always our aim to stay in it for as long as we can. As I say, this won't be easy, but we're going there to try to make sure we are still in the competition come full time."

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Crewe Alexandra - R Johnson, Baillie, Appleton, Gorman, Nolan, Johnson, Jones, Waters, Saunders, Wilson, Moores. Subs - Smith, Tyson, Ng, Cooper, Howell.

Carlisle United - Parker; Gwinnutt, Staunch, Morse, Minor; Dempsey, Lynch, Berwick; Brough, Peel, Thomson. Subs - Brass, McEvoy, Chisholm, Dixon, Hammill.

Crewe had the better of the first half in terms of possession but the best chance fell to Greg Peel inside the Alex area. A slide rule pass from Dempsey released Thomson who cut the ball back, and the big striker set himself only to drag his shot wide.

Jordan Parker made two superb saves just ahead of half time as he dived low to block efforts from Moores and Jones and it was all to play for going into the break.

Half time: Alex 0 - 0 United

51 mins - Dempsey set Brough clear with a lovely pass and the forward beat the keeper with a low shot into the bottom corner.

71 mins - A three-pass move left Moores one-on-one and he dinked it into the bottom corner.

Full time: Alex 1 - 1 United

104 mins - Waters cut inside and drilled the ball into the top corner to claim the win for the home side.
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