Crewe surrender their advantage

Crewe Alexandra allowed visitors Stevenage to come from behind with two early second-half goals earning them a 2-1 victory at Gresty Road.

The Alex went ahead just beyond the half-hour when the recalled Chuks Aneke took advantage of some decent approach work from Mathias Pogba.

But Lucas Akins and Marcus Haber both replied during a six-minute spell shortly after the break to eventually give the visitors maximum points.

Home goalkeeper Steve Phillips had earlier recovered from a slight knock and midfielder Aneke returned at the expense of fellow loanee Brad Inman, who instead switched to the bench.

However, Boro's Greg Tansey tried an acrobatic early attempt for the visitors while Haber nearly took advantage of a loose Mark Ellis back-pass until Phillips rescued the situation.

The action continued to be scrappy with few clear opportunities until the hosts forged ahead on 32 minutes when Aneke despatched a low finish from Pogba's cross for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Skipper Luke Murphy saw another effort blocked and Boro keeper Steve Arnold was required to turn over following a deflection off his own player, while Harry Davis glanced a header wide after Tansey had already curled a free-kick over at the other end.

Stevenage came out with increased purpose for the second-half and Akins tried an early drive before equalising from Anthony Grant's assist ten minutes after the break.

Five minutes later Haber swept past Davis and drove beyond Phillips to allow the visitors the lead. And they continued to appear the more dangerous side with Tansey twice over the target while James Dunne, Haber and Akins could have similarly added to their advantage.

Late Crewe substitute Ryan Colclough headed wide from a free-kick but it couldn't prevent a first home defeat in five league games for his colleagues.

Crewe Alexandra: Phillips, Mellor, Davis, Ellis, Tootle, Murphy, Osman, Aneke (Inman 75), Moore, Pogba (Colclough 90), Dalla Valle (M. Clayton 75)

subs (unused): Martin, Dugdale, Robertson, Leitch-Smith

Goals: Aneke (32)

Stevenage: Arnold, Gray (Ngala 77), Charles, Roberts, Comminges, Tansey, Grant, Dunne, Morais (Beleck 61), Haber (Freeman 90), Akins

subs (unused): Day, Hills, Shroot, Hoskins

Goals: Akins (55), Haber (60)

Ref: Deadman

Att: 4,262

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