Southend v Crewe

Southend 2

Harris 64′ Barker 88′

Crewe 2

Leitch-Smith 24′ Clayton 86′

FT 90 +5
HT 0-1
(agg 2 - 3)

Football League: Late drama as Wembley beckons Crewe

By Chris Osborne BBC Sport at Roots Hall

A second-leg draw was good enough to send Crewe into the League Two play-off final at Southend's expense.

Leading 1-0 from the first tie, the Alex doubled their aggregate lead with AJ Leitch-Smith's fine finish.

Neil Harris pulled one back following Steve Phillips's fumble before Max Clayton once again extended the visitors' advantage.

In a frantic finish Chris Barker nodded home Ryan Hall's cross but it was not enough to stop Crewe reaching Wembley.

It was a true display of the lottery of the play-offs as Southend, who spent a large part of the season top of the league only to narrowly miss out on automatic promotion, were put to the sword by a Crewe side who were 12th when the two teams met in February .

That loss triggered a remarkable undefeated run for the Alex, who have now gone a club-record 18 games without tasting defeat.

Did you know?

Crewe top scorer Nick Powell, who set up his side's second goal, has been scouted this season by Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea

And they took the lead at Roots Hall when Ashley Westwood won a battle with Anthony Grant in the centre of the park before releasing Leitch-Smith down the left. He showed the quickest of feet to cut into the area and send an arching drive beyond Belford.

Southend thought they had pulled one back when Freddy Eastwood snaffled the chance after Phillips had parried Hall's strike, but the Coventry loanee had roamed offside.

Crewe, exploiting the space as Southend continued to push forward, were handed plenty of chances to put the tie to bed.

Belford's mis-kicked clearance fell into Byron Moore's path, but he blazed over with only the keeper to beat and Leitch-Smith, who moments earlier had been harshly booked for diving, hit his effort tamely at the keeper when Lee Bell had chipped him through.

Finally the Southend fightback came and Crewe had both posts to thank for preserving their lead as Michael Timlin struck one and then Eastwood the other.

The breakthrough arrived moments later, with Phillips failing to collect Barker's cross and substitute Harris sweeping in the loose ball.

The joy was short-lived though, as Crewe's highly fancied youngsters Nick Powell and Clayton combined, the latter finding enough space under pressure to fashion a cute finish, which sneaked just inside the wrong-footed Belford's left upright.

Barker hit back late on, applying the finish to Hall's stunning chipped cross, but it was not enough to stop Steve Davis's men from continuing their march towards Wembley, where they meet either Cheltenham or Torquay.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Southend manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

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"You can't play a game like we've tried to play, 45 minutes of football. If we'd shown that aggression and appetite in the first half, I think we'd have come out the victors.

"The biggest game of the season and we just didn't get to grips with the game at all. They were the eager team and got the goal they deserved.

"I think we shaded the second half, but the horse had bolted by then. I'm absolutely gutted for everybody involved with the football club."

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I'm delighted for everyone, the supporters and the staff, who have all worked very hard to get to this.

"It's a great achievement. And I'm proud of everybody. It's given everyone a lift.

"It was an exciting game and I'm delighted we came out on top. I hope everyone can make it to Wembley."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (3)

Southend United

35 Belford
02 Clohessy
03 Gilbert (Hills - 32' )
06 Bilel
16 Prosser
23 Barker
04 Hall
07 Grant Booked
08 Timlin
24 Benyon (Harris - 54' )
37 Eastwood

Substitutes

01 Morris
12 Ferdinand
34 Hills
14 Martin
09 Harris

Crewe Alexandra

01 Phillips
02 Tootle
03 Davis Booked
05 Artell
06 Dugdale
04 Westwood
07 Bell
17 Mellor
10 Leitch-Smith Booked (Clayton - 75' )
11 Moore
25 Powell Booked

Substitutes

13 Martin
12 Shelley
15 Martin
34 Bodin
19 Clayton

Ref: Drysdale

Att: 8,190

Match Stats

Possession 42 58

Shots

17 12

On target

10 4

Corners

3 3

Fouls

8 3

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:14 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +1:07

The ball is sent over by Lee Hills, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Bilel Mohsni goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

90:00 +0:57

Centre by Sean Clohessy, clearance made by Byron Moore.

90:00 +0:25

Ryan Hall crosses the ball, clearance by Harry Davis.

88:58

Sean Clohessy concedes a free kick for a foul on Kelvin Mellor. Direct free kick taken by Matt Tootle.

88:02

Lee Hills delivers the ball, Adam Dugdale manages to make a clearance.

87:01

Ryan Hall provided the assist for the goal.

87:01 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Barker - Southend 2 - 2 Crewe Chris Barker finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Southend 2 (2)-(3) 2 Crewe.

86:58

The ball is crossed by Ryan Hall,

86:51

Centre by Ryan Hall, David Artell makes a clearance.

85:31

Assist on the goal came from Nick Powell.

85:31 Goal scored

Goal - Max Clayton - Southend 1 - 2 Crewe Goal scored by Max Clayton from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Southend 1 (1)-(3) 2 Crewe.