You would have been mistaken if possibly you feared a dull low-key start to the game after the enthralling Derbyshire Cup game last Tuesday.

Whaley set about Crewe from the start, playing 4-4-2 formation and driving into the wind in the first half, Whaley had several shots from in and around the area via Barlow, Burgess and Gilbride that Lyons in goal for the home side managed to hold on to.

Joe Burgess, back from injury and very lively upfront, was played into the left-hand corner by the Broome; he beat his two markers and crossed into the 6 yard box where the impressive advancing Gilbride met the ball heading it down to give the keeper no chance. Whaley's back four were very solid and Crewe's/the League's top scorer only had one real chance when a big kick from Lyons was brought down by Southern who turned his marker and shot early only for the ever reliable Tattersall to smother the opportunity.  However what it did do was to send a message that Whaley couldn't relax as Nathan Southern is decisive when on goal and given the opportunity.

Whaley should have had the game sown up but were not as assertive as they should have been, possibly due to tired legs and the lack of a ruthless edge, in and around the opponent's area.  After too many potential attacks came to nothing because of offside or poor delivery from dead ball situations the second goal did eventually come when a deep free kick from Gilbride was met by Captain Rob Newton who made sure by putting everything into a half volley to give the visitors a deserved 2 goal advantage.

A very good first half however Whaley need to take more advantage when they have so much possession in the opponent's final third.

Whaley now had the wind at their backs despite retaining much of the possession were restricted to mainly corners and free kicks by some dogged defending by Crewe's back four and all the time Crewe's Derrice and Southern were always a threat.  Eventually a Whaley forward was prepared to run at his marker in a dangerous area; G Burgess cut inside to beat his marker and the advancing centre-half to then drill his shot hard and low past Lyons to seal victory and a place in the quarter finals versus Eagle at Home.  One last opportunity fell to Pete Wigg who got on the end of a Gilbride cross only to see his well directed header saved bt the in form Lyons.

Several good performances including the back four, a god all-round attitude but MoM Dan Gilbride.

Tattersall; Bailey; Newton(1); Streets; Broome; Sutton(75) Barlow; Gilbride(1); J Burgess(70); G Burgess(1) Kelly(75)

Gemmill(70) Connell(75) Wigg(75)