Seventh heaven for Crewe hitmen (From Crewe Guardian)

Seventh heaven for Crewe hitmen

5:17pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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CREWE’S pricy strikeforce made a statement in a 7-0 romp at non-league Newcastle Town.

Anthony Elding and Calvin Zola netted twice while Clayton Donaldson also got on the scoresheet at the Lyme Valley Stadium on Sunday.

If the Alex intend on bouncing straight back from the basement, they’ll need the trio to justify the combined £500,000 plus spent on them last summer.

And they may have a wildcard joining them as French trialist Hamdi Razak pressed his claims for a contract with a late double.

Gudjohn Thordarson’s side started their pre-season campaign with an easy ride, rubberstamped by five goals in a 20-minute second-half spell.

Man-of-the-match Elding shone in a new role just behind Zola and opened the scoring after good work between the two on 11 minutes.

Donaldson confirmed Crewe’s dominance with a neat chip over keeper Rob Powner for the second 10 minutes later but it was almost game on shortly after.

Alan Nagington missed a sitter, heading wide after confusion between central defence duo Patrick Ada and Danny O’Donnell.

That was about that as Adam Legzdins was never really tested in the Alex goal.

Zola was denied a third when Karl Miller cleared his header off the line while namesake Shaun wasted a prime opportunity to get his pre-season tally underway.

Newcastle were relieved to get to the break without further damage and both sides made extensive changes.

Former Swindon player Michael Pook had a piece of the action as Thordarson replaced his entire midfield.

And the avalanche began when Zola finished off a rebound after second-half keeper Matt Sergeant made a meal of his header on the hour mark.

The towering striker added a quick second, heading home Ashley Westwood’s corner as the hosts began to wilt in the heat.

Elding converted from the spot for a rapid fifth before Razak replaced Zola with success.

The forward who also finished last season at Swindon headed home a Byron Moore cross (71) before dispatching Matt Tootle’s cross (81) to conclude the rout.

“I’m pleased that we managed to score some goals and I was pleased with the strikers who got them, that will give them a bit of confidence,” explained Thordarson.

“I was also pleased with the clean sheet although both keepers didn’t have too much to do.

“Adam came for a few crosses in the first-half and that was good.

“The keeper is a situation is a battle, it’s whoever steps up.”

CREWE: Legzdins (Collis), Brayford (Tootle), Jones (Westwood), Ada, O'Donnell, S Miller (Moore), Mitchel-King (Pook), Bailey (Murphy), Donaldson (Grant), Elding (Mellor), Zola (Razak).

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