Crewe Alex 4-1 Oldham Athletic 26-27 FA Youth Cup Report

I don't often do match reports. I find them largely redundant when discussing the same match everyone else has just watched. But I'll make an exception for this one. The 2026-27 Crewe Alex U18s kicked off their FA Youth Cup campaign with a home game against Oldham, a team they had previously beaten back in August in the league by a 6-0 scoreline.

However, the FA Youth Cup is a different beast and the Alex have had some disappointing nights in this competition in the past, including a home loss to Halifax in the 2nd round last season. So nothing should ever be taken for granted in a win or go home competition like this.

The first notable thing was the Alex's teamsheet. Of the 18 scholars currently on their books, 6 were absent from the squad in Noah Parkinson(1st year keeper), Max Bailey(1st year CB), Gael Nsenga(2nd year winger), Noah Pinder(2nd year winger), Will Holt(2nd year winger) and Samuel Mbayo(1st year striker). All presumably were injured, a heck of a list given it's only November.

So short were they that U16s player Jacob Worthington started in midfield and the bench was mostly filled up with more unknowns from their younger age groups. However, it was still a team that boasted Tom Graves, Ryan Chadwick, Noah Bell, Lucas Swann and Joel Ewusi, all players who've been getting their feet wet in the EFL Trophy this season and have been wracking up wins in the EFL Youth Alliance League.

The game started in a scrappy fashion, with the Alex probably shading the chances. They had the ball in the net through Ewusi, but the flag was up for offside in the build up. A few more half chances came and went, but Oldham were posing a threat on the break and forced a series of corners which the Alex were able to clear.

Tactically the Alex seemed to line up in a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 system. Ewusi and 1st year scholar Zane Whelan were operating as tucked inside wingers and that in turn meant they lacked width, with full backs Chadwick and Graves(also operating out of position and away from his usual CB spot) struggling to find options.

The Alex's inability to create more clear cut openings saw them punished on 31 minutes. A ball in behind was misread by Morgan Laws-Randall and that allowed Oldham striker Charlie Kershaw to nip in behind and roll the ball calmly past Luke Unsworth. The Alex struggled to respond for the rest of the half, although they did have a couple of efforts from Bell and Ewusi that they couldn't turn home.

David Vaughan made a change for the 2nd half, with Bobby Curran coming on at LB. Ewusi moved to the right wing and Chadwick moved higher up into a LW spot. The same issues as the first half bugged the Alex, as they lacked width high up the pitch, with everything coming inside into a packed penalty area.

However, Oldham dropped off in the 2nd half and the Alex got on top, having several great chances to equalise. Bell header over from a good position, whilst Ewusi and Swann both had efforts saved. As the game drifted towards the final 20 minutes, Oldham seemed to have weathered the storm and had a couple of openings to make it 2-0. Had they taken them, it would potentially have been game over.

The Alex kept pushing though and they did eventually get the equaliser their 2nd half play warranted. It was a stunner from Max Wilson that brought it, with him firing in from 25 yards, giving the Oldham keeper no chance. It was the lift they needed and it seemed to deflate the Latics. 10 minutes late the Alex edged ahead, as a scramble in the box wasn't cleared and it fell to Swann, who was able to shake off an ankle injury to fire home.

Further gloss was added to the scoreline as Wilson fired in another thunderbolt from the right hand edge of the penalty area to put the game beyond Oldham. Ewusi then surged through in stoppage time and was taken down for a clear cut penalty. He gracefully handed the ball over to Wilson, who fired high into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick.

The scoreline was a little harsh on Oldham, who'd kept it close for most of the game and competed well throughout. But the Alex progressed despite at times an untidy performance. You could tell they were playing with a short hand given the age and profile of their bench players and the lack of subs Vaughan chose to make.

There were some real standouts though. Wilson, hat-trick aside, was excellent at the base of the midfield. He dictated the game and was always offering for the ball. Ewusi was quiet but he flashed the talent which has got him first team football already. Bell and Swann stood out for their physical presence as much as their technical ability, with both strikers comfortably 6ft already. Given the Alex struggle to produce tall players, if these 2 make it, they could be ones to watch as they continue to grow. Graves was solid despite playing at RB.

These lads stand to be busy in the coming weeks. They have the 2nd round of the FA Youth Cup of course, but some of them will be featuring in the last game of the EFL Trophy in some cases and the Cheshire Senior Cup, which is at home to Chester. All 3 games will have to be played before December. With an already long injury list and Swann visibly limping at FT in this game, I hope the ones that are fit aren't pushed to breaking point.

Either way, it was a good night to get a proper look at some of them. They acquitted themselves well in difficult circumstances and can feel proud of making it through to Round 2. Given they've made it to round 3 in 7 of the last 8 seasons, hopefully the 2nd round draw is favourable to them as well.