United 1 Crewe 1
Match Sponsor: ROB & CAROLINE CHANDLER
Matchball Sponsor: Emma Butterworth Dental
Man of the Match: Elliot Benyon
United were pegged back again at Plainmoor, this time by an 85th minute equaliser by Crewe, but they did extend their unbeaten run to six matches. Scott Rendell marked his return to first team action after a broken arm with a first half goal but despite missing a second half penalty the visitors pulled level late on.
There were three changes for United with Eunan O'Kane & Tyrone Thompson dropping to the bench to be replaced by the returning Wayne Carlisle & Scott Rendell and Elliot Benyon replaced Ashley Barnes who was recalled by his parent club Plymouth Argyle earlier in the week.
The game began in quite a sedate manner with neither team creating anything noteworthy in the opening quarter of an hour.
In the 16th minute United came close to opening the scoring when Mark Ellis' header from a Nicky Wroe corner was cleared off the line by Schumacher. It was the first chance of a game that had taken its time to spring into life.
Wayne Carlisle flashed a right foot shot a couple of yards wide while at the other end Schumacher beat Scott Bevan but also the left hand post with a 22 yard free-kick as the visitors went close.
The best chance of the match to date came in the 26th minute when Brayford was allowed to run at the United defence down the right before squaring the ball to Miller but his shot was far too weak and Scott Bevan was able to save at the second attempt.
The match was ticking along with not much incident to report until the 38th minute when Chris Zebroski decided to take on two Crewe playersdown the left hand side and his sheer pace did for them both before Zebs crossed low for Scott Rendell to score with a neat turn and low left foot shot.
The goal came somewhat out of the blue as both teams were struggling to create clear openings but it was more than welcome!
Goal: United 1 (Rendell 38) Crewe 0
United had negated the Crewe attack during the first half despite the visitors enjoying a fair amount of possession and with a goal advantage the match was there for the taking.
Half-Time: United 1 Crewe 0
The first chance of the second half went to the Gulls; a long throw by Chris Robertson was headed clear by Mitchel-King and fell to Lee Mansell 12 yards out but Lee couldn't get his head over the ball and his effort sailed over the crossbar.
United were enjoying more of the ball in the second period and were peppering the Crewe goal with a succession of shots but none of them were low enough to trouble Phillips in the visitor's goal. For all of United's shots at goal they still only had a slender single goal advantage and they had a shock in the 68th minute when a lob over the top by Crewe substitute Murphy put Donaldson clear but with Scott Bevan advancing off his line and closing him down his first touch took the ball too far wide and a goal kick was the result.
Scott Bevan was forced into making a fine one handed save from Miller as Crewe pushed United back but the Gulls responded and Phillips made saves from both Chris Zebroski and Chris Robertson in quick succession.
Note for the first time this season there was late drama at Plainmoor with United in front and in the 77th minute Crewe were given a potential lifeline when a break from Grant down the middle released Miller and he was fouled by Mark Ellis at the expense of a penalty. Miller dusted himself down and promptly drove the penalty high over Scott Bevan and the crossbar. It was a let-off for the Gulls.
Missed penalty: Miller 77 (Crewe)
The warning had been there for United for the previous 15 minutes or so and with five minutes remaining a neat pass from Miller inside the United area was slipped past Bevan by Donaldson low into the right hand corner.
Goal: United 1 Crewe 1 (Donaldson 85)
It was probably a deserved equaliser giving the previous quarter of an hour of Crewe pressure but with the outstanding Guy Branston marshalling the Gulls defence and Elliot Benyon running himself into the ground in attack United supporters would have hoped for the two extra points. Despite that late disappointment it is six games without defeat and a chance to add the full three points against Lincoln at Plainmoor next weekend.
Full-Time: United 1 Crewe 1
