npower League 2 Play-Off Final

27/05/2012

npower League 2 Play-Off Final 2012

Cheltenham Town 0-2 Crewe Alexandra
nPower League Two
Play-Off Final
3pm, Sunday 27 May 2012
Wembley Stadium

A first-half wonder-goal from Nick Powell and a late strike from Byron Moore ensured Crewe Alexandra a route back into League One.

Kaid Mohamed, who played a pivotal part in Cheltenham’s semi-final wins over Torquay, had the first chance of the game when took aim on five minutes but dragged his shot wide.

Both sides looked impressive in possession before the deadlock was broken with a contender for goal of the season on 15 minutes.

Crewe had spent time training at Arsenal’s facilities in the build-up to the match and some Premier League magic must have rubbed off as their opening goal was of the highest quality

Nick Powell received the ball on the edge of the box and flicked the ball up before smashing it into the top corner Cheltenham goal.

The Matt Le Tissier-esque effort stunned the crowd and proved that all the hype around the England young international is well deserved.

The attacking midfielder had already hit 14 goals in 33 league appearances this season but none were more special than the wonder-struck he produced at Wembley to fire his side in front.

Cheltenham wasted no time admiring Powell’s effort and instead had a go of their own just four minutes later. Jeff Goulding tried an audacious shot from 35-yards and was almost rewarded when his strike rattled the crossbar in a frantic few minutes.

On the half-hour mark Goulding did finally get the ball in the Crewe net but his strike was correctly ruled out for offside.

Goulding ended the half by laying a personal siege to the Crewe goal; twice the forward went agonisingly close from a pair of corners in quick succession in the final seconds of the first half. The first effort with his feet was blocked and Cheltenham keeper Steve Phillips saved his second attempt that came off his head.

Powell ended the first half with more heroics, this time in a defensive capacity, when he cleared a Steve Elliott header off the line with his goalkeeper beaten.

Town wised up to the threat Powell posed in the second half and nullified the teenager as much as they could. In attack they almost drew level on the hour mark when Mohamed was through on goal but Scott Brown in the Alex’s goal made himself big and blocked the shot.

And Cheltenham were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when Byron Moore scored their second with eight minutes remaining to send his side into League One.