FULL TIME: Crewe 2, Town 0 (From This Is Swindon Town FC)

FULL TIME: Crewe 2, Town 0

3:49pm Saturday 17th March 2012 in nPower League Two By Ned Payne

TOWN’S League Two title hopes suffered a minor setback this afternoon, as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Crewe.

Nick Powell’s 29th-minute volley was the difference between the sides at half time, and Ashley Westwood crashed low past Foderingham after the break.

Simon Ferry and Paul Benson both hit the woodwork in the second period, but Town could not make the breakthrough.

Here are the key moments from today’s game:

Two mins: A neat, flowing move results in Nick Powell finding Byron Moore on the edge of the area, but he drags weakly wide of the right upright.

23 mins: It’s taken a long time for something to happen, and once again it’s a great chance for Crewe. Powell plays in the unmarked A-Jay Leitch-Smith, and with the goal gaping, he misses the target.

29 mins (GOAL! Crewe 1 Town 0, Powell): Moore picks out Leitch-Smith on the right and he whips in a knee-height cross that Powell smashes off the underside of the bar. Referee Darren Deadman rules the ball crossed the line and Town have got what they deserve for their performance thus far.

33 mins: Luke Rooney heads off-target at the far post, but in truth, it’s barely a half-chance.

39 mins: Luke Murphy wastes a 20-yard free kick and moments later, Powell fluffs an attempted volley at the far post.

43 mins: Powell tests Wes Foderingham but the goalkeeper dives to his left to save.

46 mins: Town boss Paolo Di Canio obviously wasn’t too impressed with Rooney in the first period, as he has been replaced by new loan signing Lee Holmes at half time.

48 mins: Holmes’ first contribution is to shoot several yards over from range. Crisp hit, though.

53 mins: A lovely touch from Powell sees him nip past Alan McCormack, but his drive is parried away by Foderingham.

61 mins: Paul Benson tees up Jonathan Tehoue, who smashes a half-volley into a crowd of Crewe players, and Town appeals for handball are fruitless.

62 mins: Joe Devera cannot make enough of a connection with Holmes’ free kick from the left, and the ball drifts harmlessly wide.

64 mins (GOAL! Crewe 2 Town 0, Westwood): Matt Tootle has the freedom of the left flank in which to deliver a cross. The ball goes all the way through to Ashley Westwood at the back post, who takes a touch before blasting under Foderingham from close range.

67 mins: Di Canio reacts instantly. Swindon go with three at the back as Ronan Murray comes on for Callum Kennedy.

69 mins: Aden Flint is booked. That’s him and McCormack both on a yellow now.

74 mins: A mad few moments. First Simon Ferry cracks an effort against the bar, Adam Dugdale brilliantly blocks from Tehoue at close range and Benson sees his header come back off the bar.

79 mins: Last throw of the dice from Di Canio, as Lee Cox comes on for Oliver Risser.

85 mins: Tehoue is about to pull the trigger at the far post, but Tootle makes a brilliant sliding challenge.

CREWE (4-4-1-1): Steve Phillips; Matt Tootle, Harry Davis, Dave Artell (c), Adam Dugdale; Ashley Westwood, Luke Murphy, Byron Moore, Danny Shelley (Jordan Brown, 75); A-Jay Leitch Smith (Max Clayton, 82); Nick Powell (Greg Pearson, 90)

Substitutes not used: Alan Martin, Shaun Miller.

TOWN (4-4-2): Wes Foderingham; Alan McCormack (c), Aden Flint, Joe Devera, Callum Kennedy (Ronan Murray, 67); Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry, Oliver Risser (Lee Cox, 79), Luke Rooney (Lee Holmes, 46); Jonathan Tehoue, Paul Benson.

Substitutes not used: Alessandro Cibocchi, Alan Connell.