We can work it out

9:38am Thursday 14th August 2008

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NEW first-team coach Steve Harding is relishing Crewe FC’s punishing schedule.

The Cheshire League Division Two club kicked off their new campaign at Tarporley Victoria, last night.

“We went 2-0 down but pulled it back and that’s encouraging because last season we were prone to folding.”

Crewe FC first-team coach Steve Harding

And that was the first of six away games in just 18 days, making it a tough start to life on the sidelines.

However the veteran stopper believes it could work out well in their favour.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he explained.

“In some ways I’d rather us play than train.

“We’ve just got to make the best of it.”

Harding has been buoyed by closing pre-season with three creditable draws.

Goals from Joey Alcott and Danny Athorn sealed a fine comeback in a 2-2 draw with Division One neighbours Middlewich Athletic.

Despite dominating the first-half, Crewe failed to appear for the second-half and trailed through two defensive blunders.

Alcott put them back in it from the spot while Athorn’s bullet header completed the job last Thursday.

“We started well and dominated the first-half but we stayed in the changing room,” added Harding.

“We went 2-0 down but pulled it back and that’s encouraging because last season we were prone to folding.”

Athorn can’t stop scoring since his wedding, making it two in two as they repeated the feat at Abbey Hulton, last Saturday.

Goalless at the break, Crewe once again fell 2-0 down before salvaging the situation.

Youngster Danny Lloyd marked his role as a makeshift striker in fine style while Athorn levelled.

Alan Brown hit the post with a late free-kick as the visitors were in control late on.

“It was a good test,” said manager Ian O’Reilly.

“We seem to be making a habit of going 2-0 down but we did well to get back in it and I felt we should have won in the end.”