Report: Crewe Alexandra U23s 2-1 Bristol City U23s

The home side scored through efforts from Owen Dale and Charlie Kirk, either side of Marcus Day's leveller, to secure all three points in Cheshire.

The opening half hour produced very few opportunities of note and when Dale's shot proved too powerful for Alhaji Sesay in the visiting goal, Crewe had the lead from their first real shot of note.

City drew level with 15 minutes left on the clock from their best move of the game. George Nurse and Vince Harper linked up well down the left and then James Morton threaded a superb through ball to beat the offside trap and find Day in the box. The substitute took one touch to steady himself before shooting low past former City stopper David Richards in the home goal.

However, all City's hard work in getting back on level terms was undone when Crewe secured victory just four minutes later. Harry Pickering's attempt was kept out by Sesay but Kirk was on hand to squeeze in the rebound through a cluster of bodies.

City Under-23s: Sesay, A.Harper (Turner-Williams), Parsons, Harvey Smith, Nurse, S.Pearson (Day), Richards, Morton, V.Harper, Akpobire, Garita.