Crewe Alexandra produced a stunning display to thrash Chesterfield 7-1 in their opening Vertu Trophy fixture, with Emre Tezgel netting the club’s first hat-trick in eight years.
The Railwaymen ran riot at Mornflake Stadium, with six different goalscorers in what was their biggest victory since 2011.
Alex Ruthless In Early Onslaught
Lee Bell made nine changes from the weekend defeat at Swindon Town, handing starts to Louis Moult and Oli Armstrong, with new signing Jay Mingi introduced from the bench. Chesterfield also rotated heavily but still fielded experienced figures in John Fleck and Will Grigg.
It took just six minutes for Crewe to stamp their authority. First, Moult flicked a long ball into Armstrong’s path, and he unselfishly squared for Tezgel to finish. Moments later, Tezgel latched onto a long pass from Luca Moore and buried a low strike past Ryan Boot. Calum Agius then raced clear to add a composed third inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Adam Lewis briefly gave the visitors hope with a superb free-kick, but Moult restored the three-goal cushion with a well-placed header from Moore’s cross. At 4-1 by half-time, the contest was effectively over.
Tezgel Treble Headlines Record Win
After the restart, Tezgel completed his hat-trick on 51 minutes, striding forward before rifling home from the edge of the box. It was Crewe’s first treble since Chris Dagnall against Barnet in 2017, and the young forward was given a standing ovation when replaced by Adrien Thibaut.
Thibaut quickly made his mark, winning and converting a penalty to open his account for the club. Armstrong then added a seventh, spinning inside the area to fire a low drive into the bottom corner.
Crewe continued to control proceedings, with Lewis Billington clearing off the line late on to preserve the six-goal margin. The result was their heaviest win since the 8-1 demolition of Cheltenham Town in 2011 and provided a statement start to their Group H campaign.
Writer’s View
This was a night where everything clicked for Crewe. Tezgel’s hat-trick underlined his growing reputation as one of the division’s most exciting young forwards, while contributions from across the team highlighted impressive attacking depth. Moult and Armstrong getting off the mark will be particularly pleasing for Bell, who rotated heavily without sacrificing cohesion.
Against a Chesterfield side featuring experienced names, the result was even more eye-catching. For a club looking to build momentum in cup and league, this performance will stand as a major confidence boost and a reminder of their attacking potential.
