Now that our return to the second tier means we are no longer compelled to waste our time in the Associate Members’ Cup, with its multitude of subsequent sponsorship renamings, the League Cup is by some margin our lowest priority. Itself labouring under a clumsy sponsors’ title, presently an undrinkable alcoholic drink, the competition is struggling to retain credibility as the importance of League standings gains ever greater importance.

Not that much of this mattered last night in sunny south Cheshire, as a much weakened City side took on Third Division Crewe, and provided a game of unexpected entertainment.

Stung from Saturday’s dispiriting reverse against Plymouth, Phil Brown made nine alterations to the side, including the welcome decision to remove Coles and Ashbee from the side, as the Tigers lined up: Duke; Doyle, Turner, Brown, Delaney; Livermore, Garcia, Featherstone, Elliott; McPhee, Bridges. It meant a return to 4-4-2, and City were to benefit from this change in formation.

A warm summer evening greeted the 350 or so City fans who’d travelled west, and both sides showed an instant inclination towards playing an attractive passing game. The home side were on the back foot early on as Livermore and Featherstone zipped around in the centre of midfield to useful effect, harrying our hosts into yielding possession cheaply.

As the game entered a more even phase after the initial flurry of activity, Crewe began to pose a greater threat on the break and Doyle was cautioned for a clumsy lunge on the lively-but-erratic Moore as he skipped into space down the left. Roberts joined our right-back in the referee’s notebook shortly after for an ungainly challenge on Featherstone, who took several moments to fully recover his composure.

Crewe nearly took advantage of City’s temporary torpor, when a header from a free-kick was fortunately directed straight at Duke – had it gone a yard either side of the City keeper we’d have trailed. Bridges was the next to trouble a gloveman when a superb deep Elliott cross found him in space at the far post, but his volley was a strangely hesitant effort and Williams was able to shovel it to safety.

It was becoming a curious affair. Despite a raft of changes for both sides and friendly-style atmosphere, commitment was absolute among all twenty-two players. However, after Crewe’s brief time in the ascendency City retook the initiative, with our tackles looking that bit meatier and our defence that little more streetwise.

However, as the Tigers grabbed control of the game, Crewe nearly the took the lead when Brown was caught out of position allowing Miller to hare goalwards. He shot for the top near corner of Duke’s goal, but with the Tigers’ keeper already diving the wrong way he managed to fling out a strong left hand and parry the ball to safety – a truly remarkable stop that vexed the Crewe forward and brought hearty cheers from the City support.

With half-time nearing, City took the lead. A clear handball was spotted by the referee, and a penalty awarded to the Tigers. Bridges stepped up to take the kick, and for the second time this season our 12-yard effort was saved only for the rebound to be safely tucked home, Bridges himself making speedy amends to make it 1-0. There was still time for Duke to pull off another outstanding save before the break when a crashing effort from Moore was blocked by the stand-in goalie.

Crewe came out determined to salvage the tie, and had the better of the opening minutes of the second half. However, with Brown and Turner looking composed and determined, and Delaney and Doyle sticking rigidly to their defensive assignments, the Railwaymen were unable to force a way through. And ten minutes in to the half, City scored a decisive second.

Garcia, previously quiet, picked up the ball on the halfway line, assessed his options – one left, one right – and elected instead to welly the ball into the top corner of Williams’ goal from twenty yards. An unstoppable strike worthy of a grander occasion than this, and as the Tigers celebrated the goal everyone knew had settled the match, Garcia rather nonchalantly shrugged and sauntered back to his position for kick-off. Cool, or arrogant? Perhaps both – but if I could do things like that, I’d probably indulge in a bit of showing off as well. A terrific effort.

City relaxed a little now, certain the game was won. Our ball retention was excellent, Crewe heads understandably sagged a little and it was evident that Championship class had told. A third goal always looked likely, and with twenty minutes remaining it duly arrived, a horrible defensive mix-up allowing Stephen McPhee to spring onto a loose ball and toe-poke it past the advancing Williams.

Praise be! A goal from Stephen McPhee! A collector’s item for those present, and it was celebrated with genuine happiness by his team-mates as the Tiger Nation beamed on benevolently.

Crewe were totally flattened now, and Phil Brown made a trio of alterations, Marney, Ricketts and Ashbee coming on for Brown, Bridges and Garcia. There was even time for one liberally refreshed City fan to continue his lengthy and loud chatting up of linesman Mr Graham, who responded with such good humour and spirit to the evening’s entertainment for us to conclude that a career in refereeing probably isn’t for him.

Ashbee remained true to form by spoiling a twenty-pass move that had the away end ole-ing in delight by lumping the ball aimlessly forward, but City were in such buoyant mood and the home side so keen for full-time that there were further opportunities for us to rub salt in the wounds of the comical gaggle of spotty drum-led 15-year olds that makes up Crewe’s fearsome Kop as City knocked the ball around with an air of glee we’ve not seen for some time, before referee Miller ended the entertainment, prompting a sly thumbs-up from linesman Graham to his suitor and the Tigers bounded off the pitch to rapturous applause from a genuinely satisfied away following.

A good night’s entertainment. We expect little from the League Cup, but this was a smashing game of football conducted with commitment and a desire to play in the right way. The scoreline perhaps flattered us a trifle in the end, although we were the worthy winners and proved a little too strong. But perhaps more significant than this result could be the implication in Mr Brown’s future selections.

Shorn of Ashbee, the midfield looked no less combative – due to Featherstone’s willing and Livermore’s characteristically composed holding job, yet it was much less hasty and more thoughtful in possession. Brown or Turner for Coles is so blindingly obvious that the manager cannot possibly be contemplating not doing this.

Equally intriguing are the fringe players now on the verge of selection. Nicky Featherstone is evidently a player the manager likes the look of, and his long-term prospects have been substantially enhanced by a good pre-season and an assured display at Gresty Road. It may be some time before he makes regular first-team starts, but his appearance in future squads seems likely. Nathan Doyle put in a good shift at right-back. But the attention-grabbing performance was Matt Duke.

Previously seen as little more than capable cover in case Myhill was unavailable, he is now a genuine threat to our number one. A superb performance included flawless handling, brilliant shot-stopping and some swift and incisive distribution. One would suppose Brown will not depose his first choice game just one game into the season, and he would probably be wrong to do so. However, Boaz Myhill now has a genuine rival for the keepers’ shirt. And that, together with a good win and an entertaining display, is probably the biggest positive to come from City’s progress into the second round of the League Cup. (AD)