Vagrants' quick start propels them to Hull victory (From Crewe Guardian)

Vagrants' quick start propels them to Hull victory

8:00am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Sport

Crewe Vagrants 4 Hull 2

VAGRANTS got off to a dream start against fellow strugglers Hull, blitzing them with two goals in the opening three minutes to give themselves an early platform to win the game.

But if they thought it was going to be easy, they were wrong, as they could not build on their early lead and had to grind their way to a long overdue win in the second half.

A hungry-looking Crewe stunned Hull with a lightning goal in the second minute thanks to Pete Cornell collecting a superb pinpoint pass from Chris Regan and lashing home for 1-0, before striking again from close range a minute later following Steve Bourne’s fine run up the left flank.

Hull replied with a dangerous counter-attack that resulted in a goal being disallowed, but Crewe dominated the ensuing spell of furious-paced play, going close after James Capper failed to connect with a whipped-in cross at the far post.

Regan and Read made fine clearances in defence, while Will Rowlinson and Dave Holland put in vital interceptions in midfield, with Crewe surviving a nervy spell as keeper Kassim Abbas had to make a crucial save as Hull pressed for a goal back.

The home side desperately needed a third goal to restore their composure, but it simply would not come.

Capper put in a great dribble near goal but found no one to apply the finish, and Cornell did likewise, though sandwiched between two defenders.

Crewe continued their push for a third goal at the restart, but Hull hit back on the counter attack and after spuring a chance from a corner they lashed home a shot six minutes into the second half to make it 2-1.

Smelling blood Hull forced a vital save from Abbas and Crewe wasted a chance to restore their cushion with another slow corner routine.

Cornell made amends, and his hat-trick, five minutes after Hull's opening goal when lashing home from a corner for 3-1.

Another corner then went begging, but as tempers flared Vagrants won a penalty flick and Regan converted to calm home nerves at 4-1.

Pacified, Crewe were passing better and finding their men, but Hull still looked threatening and sliced through the home defence to force Abbas to tip a shot over the bar.

Hull were not done yet, pulling back to 4-2 with a penalty flick and giving Crewe an anxious spell with two further corners in a seemingly endless 11 minutes of stoppage time, but Vagrants held on for a deserved victory.