Conor Quigley was Fermanagh’s oustanding player on the day, marauding down the right flank and causing all sorts of problems for the Crewe team. The Fermanagh defence of Richard Anderson, Matthew Chambers, Matthew Keenan and Ryan Clancy formed a solid back line and stood firm against a good Crewe team who moved the ball well around the pitch, using good one touch football as typifies the English league teams in this competition.

    Fermanagh started well when Quigley fired in a dipping shot that narrowly sailed over the bar. Crewe played into the wind in the first half with Andrew Bond going close for the English visitors following a corner that was cleared to the edge of the box.

    On ten minutes, Fermanagh had another worthwhile effort when a Kieran McKenna snapshot was blocked, rebounding to Richard Finlay whose 25 yard drive was saved at the second attempt by the Crewe netminder, Callum Jones.

    It was very much nip and tuck at this stage and a McKenna free kick down the left found Kyle Robinson who whipped in a dangerous cross into the six yard box that needed only a touch to end up in the Crewe net but the ball cleared everybody before going wide. Robinson was then denied as the Crewe keeper was quick off his line to save at the Ballinamallard lad’s feet, following a neat through ball from the impressive Quigley.

    With eight minutes left, Crewe scored. Fermanagh seemed to have won a throw in but the referee gave the decision to Crewe. Bond found Robert Lloyd from the throw, who crossed to the back post where Christopher Holroyd arrived late to head across Cadden and into the Fermanagh net. Controversial and untimely, Fermanagh responded positively with Quigley shooting narrowly wide and Anderson just missing the target with a firm header.

    Fermanagh played into the breeze in the second half and started strongly with Quigley again showing up well as he fired over the bar from 20 yards. Soon after, a free on the left was whipped in by Matthew Keenan and as Clancy jumped for the ball the referee, Larkin, adjudged he was pulled back and a penalty ensued. Kieran McKenna blasted the ball down the middle of the goal as Fermanagh got back on level terms.

    Buoyed by this goal, Fermanagh pushed Crewe back with Quigley again pressing down the right hand side but the Crewe defence held firm. Indeed, the game turned their way on 41 minutes when Gerard O’Callaghan’s clearance seemed to come off a Crewe attacker but the ref awarded a corner. Crewe then took the break in play as an opportunity to bring on two subs.

    Thereafter, the corner was swung in and Fermanagh cleared the ball to the edge of the area, where substitute Chris Hogg was waiting, with his first touch of the game, to fire the ball to the back of the Fermanagh net through a ruck of players.

    With 18 minutes left, Fermanagh trailed 2-1 and Crewe started to dominate for a short period but Fermanagh held firm before raisng their game in the final five minutes. A rejuvenated Fermangh went all out in the final five minutes for an equaliser with Clancy going closest when he headed narrowly wide and Quigley broke down the right but his shot was well saved.

    In the end, Crewe were happy to play out time by holding the ball in the corner and moments later it was all over as referee, Larkin blew the final whistle. Some days the decisions go for you and somedays they go against you.