Both Connor Hall and Josh Earl returned from long-term injuries to play 90 minutes as Wanderers U23s were defeated 4-1 by their Crewe counterparts.
First Half:
Wanderers started the game well, with a low cross into the box from Joe Dodoo nearly finding the head of Connor Hall for a well worked goal, but a defensive header away diverted the path of the ball.
Back up the other end it went near enough immediately, but for a super block from young centre-back Adam Senior, a goal was for sure on the cards.
The Whites responded on the counter through Hall, as he hit an effort that stung the gloves of goalkeeper Sam Booth.
On the quarter hour mark, Adam Senior’s blocking skills were back out in force, this time stopping Railwaymen skipper Oliver Finney from finding the back of the net.
On 23 minutes, Reilly fired the visitors into the lead with a simple header from less than six yards out beating Matthew Alexander.
One became two soon after, as Chuma Anene placed the ball into the bottom left corner past the outstretched hand of Alexander.
The Trotters nearly had their response seven minutes from the interval, with Connor Hall’s header from five yards missing the target.
Crewe did hit the upright on the stroke of half time, as they nearly tripled their lead.
Second Half
Crewe had their third five minutes after the restart, as Rio Adebisi fired it past Alexander from inside the six-yard box.
Wanderers’ trialist Tim Elsnik tried to restart a comeback for the home side, but his half volley was mishit and finished wide of the target.
However, striker Connor Hall got a goal back after two-and-a-half months out with injury, as he found the back of the net from close distance.
But on the hour mark, Anene doubled his personal tally and made it four for Crewe, coolly finishing into the bottom left corner past the outstretched hand of Alexander.
Substitute Sonny Graham nearly clawed a second back with 20 minutes to go, but his snapshot was wide of the mark.
James Weir curled a free-kick around a five-man wall, which forced Booth into action with a low save to his left.
Crewe nearly had their fifth just prior to the final whistle, but the attacker’s effort cannoned off the crossbar as the referee called time on this Professional Development League clash.
Full Time
Wanderers XI: Alexander, Weir, Earl, Senior, Boon, Murphy (C), Politic, Elsnik, Hall, Dodoo, Darcy.
Subs: King-Harmes, Hutchinson, Graham, White, Brown.