Date: Saturday, 24th January 1948
Score: Crewe Alexandra 0-3 Derby County
Scorers: none
Venue: Gresty Road, Crewe
Attendance: 14,000
Match Report from the Derby County archives....
Crewe Alexandra's slender hopes of achieving F. A. Cup fame went up in smoke (literally!) half an hour after the start of their fourth round clash with Derby County at the tiny Gresty-road ground on Saturday. Billy Steel and Crewe centre-half Cardwell crashed head-on, as a cloud of engine smoke from the nearby railway sidings swept across the pitch. When the "fog" lifted, Cardwell was seen to be clutching an injured ankle. He was a "passenger" from then onwards, moved to the right wing for the second half and the Rams simply toyed with the disorganised Crewe remnants until the final whistle brought merciful relief for these would-be "giant killers."
Almost first to acknowledge Derby's superior skill and football artistry after the match was the home section of the 14,000 capacity crowd which paid £2,035 to gain admission. A fortnight earlier they had borne the Crewe gallants shoulder-high off the field after the slaying of Sheffield United. On Saturday they again invaded the pitch at the end of the game this time to applaud the Rams for an art exhibition the like of which Crewe had not seen for years.
True, the Crewe boys hung on bravely for 37 minutes before Harrison eventually broke the seal on their goal, but the issue was never in doubt. The home side were outclassed from the first kick of the game, and though the victory margin was only 3-0, there is no saying what it might have been had not the Rams changed into second gear in the last half-hour. Any fears Derby may have held that their opponents had a "Colchester" in store for them were quickly dispelled. There was no "F-Plan," "V-Plan" or any other plan about the Crewe style of play. It was just plain, straightforward type of football one expects from an average Third Division side.
In fact, if anybody played to a plan it was Derby County. Shall we call it the "G-Plan" ("G" for Goliath)? The Rams were the masters. They knew it, and they played accordingly. Crewe must have foreseen their fate in the opening 20 minutes, for it was during that period that the Rams, in deadly earnest, crushed the Alexandra spirit in preparation for an orgy of goalscoring which, rather surprisingly, never came.
After that, Crewe were a dazed and weary team and the three goals which followed were plotted in simple, almost leisurely, style.
Whether they liked it or not, the home side were compelled to assume the role of "pupils." Once or twice in the second half they dared to challenge the Rams' supremacy by resorting to tough tactics, but the Rams remained firm and Crewe soon shied when given a taste of their own medicine. Though Stamps did not score (perhaps he's saving them all for the later rounds!) – how he missed a "sitter" from two yards I don't know – he was unselfish to the extreme. For some reason or other, Crewe tried to crowd him out of the game. They barred his path to goal, so he switched the ball from wing to wing with intelligent distribution.
Because Ward and Musson were on top of their form and almost falling over themselves in their anxiety to join in the fun around the home goal, Steel and Carter were able to concentrate full-time on attack. Crewe supporters looked on in astonishment as the two internationals cut through towards goal at their leisure, reviving memories of the Carter-Doherty hey-day. Steel is now an essential part of the Derby team pattern. Two goals were just reward for his labours on Saturday. The first came from a snorting right-foot drive from nearly 25 yards.
Finan saw little of the ball; consequently, Crewe's attack was patchy and never dangerous. Fusilier Stanley Jones, playing only his second League game on the left wing, was outclassed by Mozley, while E. Jones fared no better against Howe. Leuty dominated the middle without unnecessary exertion, and Townsend was again "on holiday" in goal.
Scott was Crewe's best man. His saves in the closing stages from Carter (twice), Harrison and Steel were really brilliant. Only three more rounds and then Wembley!
Crewe Alexandra: Scott; Ward (R.), Randall; Waddington, Cardwell, Lewis; Jones (E.), Meaney, Hannigan, Finan, Jones (S.)
Derby County: Townsend; Mozley, Howe; Ward, Leuty, Musson; Harrison, Carter, Stamps, Steel, Morrison.
Referee: Mr. A. C. Denham (Aston)
Attendance: 14,000
Score: Crewe Alexandra 0-3 Derby County
Scorers: none
Venue: Gresty Road, Crewe
Attendance: 14,000
Match Report from the Derby County archives....
Crewe Alexandra's slender hopes of achieving F. A. Cup fame went up in smoke (literally!) half an hour after the start of their fourth round clash with Derby County at the tiny Gresty-road ground on Saturday. Billy Steel and Crewe centre-half Cardwell crashed head-on, as a cloud of engine smoke from the nearby railway sidings swept across the pitch. When the "fog" lifted, Cardwell was seen to be clutching an injured ankle. He was a "passenger" from then onwards, moved to the right wing for the second half and the Rams simply toyed with the disorganised Crewe remnants until the final whistle brought merciful relief for these would-be "giant killers."
Almost first to acknowledge Derby's superior skill and football artistry after the match was the home section of the 14,000 capacity crowd which paid £2,035 to gain admission. A fortnight earlier they had borne the Crewe gallants shoulder-high off the field after the slaying of Sheffield United. On Saturday they again invaded the pitch at the end of the game this time to applaud the Rams for an art exhibition the like of which Crewe had not seen for years.
True, the Crewe boys hung on bravely for 37 minutes before Harrison eventually broke the seal on their goal, but the issue was never in doubt. The home side were outclassed from the first kick of the game, and though the victory margin was only 3-0, there is no saying what it might have been had not the Rams changed into second gear in the last half-hour. Any fears Derby may have held that their opponents had a "Colchester" in store for them were quickly dispelled. There was no "F-Plan," "V-Plan" or any other plan about the Crewe style of play. It was just plain, straightforward type of football one expects from an average Third Division side.
In fact, if anybody played to a plan it was Derby County. Shall we call it the "G-Plan" ("G" for Goliath)? The Rams were the masters. They knew it, and they played accordingly. Crewe must have foreseen their fate in the opening 20 minutes, for it was during that period that the Rams, in deadly earnest, crushed the Alexandra spirit in preparation for an orgy of goalscoring which, rather surprisingly, never came.
After that, Crewe were a dazed and weary team and the three goals which followed were plotted in simple, almost leisurely, style.
Whether they liked it or not, the home side were compelled to assume the role of "pupils." Once or twice in the second half they dared to challenge the Rams' supremacy by resorting to tough tactics, but the Rams remained firm and Crewe soon shied when given a taste of their own medicine. Though Stamps did not score (perhaps he's saving them all for the later rounds!) – how he missed a "sitter" from two yards I don't know – he was unselfish to the extreme. For some reason or other, Crewe tried to crowd him out of the game. They barred his path to goal, so he switched the ball from wing to wing with intelligent distribution.
Because Ward and Musson were on top of their form and almost falling over themselves in their anxiety to join in the fun around the home goal, Steel and Carter were able to concentrate full-time on attack. Crewe supporters looked on in astonishment as the two internationals cut through towards goal at their leisure, reviving memories of the Carter-Doherty hey-day. Steel is now an essential part of the Derby team pattern. Two goals were just reward for his labours on Saturday. The first came from a snorting right-foot drive from nearly 25 yards.
Finan saw little of the ball; consequently, Crewe's attack was patchy and never dangerous. Fusilier Stanley Jones, playing only his second League game on the left wing, was outclassed by Mozley, while E. Jones fared no better against Howe. Leuty dominated the middle without unnecessary exertion, and Townsend was again "on holiday" in goal.
Scott was Crewe's best man. His saves in the closing stages from Carter (twice), Harrison and Steel were really brilliant. Only three more rounds and then Wembley!
Crewe Alexandra: Scott; Ward (R.), Randall; Waddington, Cardwell, Lewis; Jones (E.), Meaney, Hannigan, Finan, Jones (S.)
Derby County: Townsend; Mozley, Howe; Ward, Leuty, Musson; Harrison, Carter, Stamps, Steel, Morrison.
Referee: Mr. A. C. Denham (Aston)
Attendance: 14,000
