From the Archive | A dream debut at Gresty Road

The 2009/10 season was a frustrating one for Salop.

After missing out on promotion to League One in the play-off final the previous season, Paul Simpson’s side had struggled to maintain momentum.  

A disappointing run throughout March and early April, which had seen us lose six games in a row, meant that the play-offs were well out of reach by the time we visited Crewe on April 10th. 

The hosts were also having a torrid end to their season. They came into the game having lost three of their last four matches.  

With both teams limping towards the season’s finish, it was Crewe who started the match on the front foot. Clayton Donaldson forced a brilliant early save from David Button, while current Bolton manager Steven Schumacher hit an effort off the post.  

Salop took the lead against the run of play on the half-hour mark. Dave Hibbert broke his poor run in front of goal, heading home from a Jake Simpson cross to make it 1-0.  

The hosts were straight back on the attack after the break, with Ashley Westwood forcing another fine save out of Button. Calvin Zola would also come close to levelling the score, heading wide from a corner.  

Salop nearly doubled their lead with 20 minutes on the clock, with substitute Steve Leslie firing a free-kick off the cross-bar.  

As the clock ticked down, Paul Simpson decided to hand academy product Tom Bradshaw his debut, and that decision would change the game.  

A long throw from Button found Bradshaw in acres of space in the Crewe half. The debutant, seemingly not phased at all by the occasion, picked up the ball, ran at the Crewe defence, and fired in one of the best debut goals you are ever likely to see from 30 yards.  

The youngster wasn’t finished, though. Dutch striker Benjamin van den Broek broke into the Crewe area, playing the ball back across the box for Bradshaw to tap home and complete his brace, just 15 minutes after entering the pitch.