Kane Crichlow Scores In Watford U23 Win
Bermuda’s Kane Crichlow scored for his Watford Football Club Under-23 team as they defeated Crewe Alexandra 4 – 1.
The club’s match report said, “Watford’s Under-23 side scored four and dominated the game against Crewe Alexandra as Kane Crichlow, Shaq Forde and a trialist got on the scoresheet in a game that took place at Vicarage Road.
“The match was attended by the likes of Academy Director Richard Johnson and Under-18 Coach Tom Hart and the Hornets started the game well. They held on to possession and used Maurizio Pochettino as an outlet, with the winger delivering two dangerous balls across the six-yard line to no avail.
“Against the run of play, however, Crewe found the breakthrough courtesy of Max Woodcock, who was found in behind the Hornets’ defence and finished into the roof of the net.
“Under-23 Coach Omer Riza was disappointed with the Crewe goal but felt his side were always in control.
“Even when we got hit with that goal we were in control of the game, but we weren’t doing things quickly enough, and we weren’t playing forward early enough when we had the opportunity to do so,” Riza said.
“We had ball carriers like Kane [Crichlow] and Shaq [Forde] who could receive on the half-turn to drive with the ball and [Maurizio] Pochettino who could get in behind. We had those players but didn’t make it count [early on], so I was disappointed to go one-nil down and sometimes that could be a big problem, but we handled it well and kept working to get back in the game.”
“Watford responded to the setback almost immediately as the trialist found the back of the net with a powerful header from a corner.
“Now in the ascendancy, the Hornets took advantage of their pressure to take the lead only a few minutes later with the trialist on the scoresheet once more.
“In the build-up, Crichlow produced an excellent piece of skill, jinking past multiple defenders, eventually laying the ball off to Ryan Andrews who delivered a driven ball into the middle that the trialist tapped home, taking a deflection on its way in.
“The Golden Boys ended the first half in full control of the game as Forde, who scored a brace last time out against Sheffield Wednesday, made it three to the hosts as his shot deflected over the Crewe keeper and into the net.
“Watford’s second half was a much more controlled affair, with less end-to-end action. Although, captain Andi Janjeva missed a good chance to put the game out of reach early on after James Morris delivered an accurate free-kick, but the skipper couldn’t head in at the far post.
“The best goal of the game was the last as Crichlow rounded off a fantastic performance in style. He volleyed the ball into the top corner from just inside the box after substitute JJ McKiernan picked out the striker, extending Watford’s lead to three.
“Riza was extremely impressed with Crichlow and hopes he can continue to further his footballing development and maintain his consistency.”
“I know the quality that Kane [Crichlow] has,” he said. “Today we played him a bit deeper, playing him in one of the 8s, and it allowed him to get on the ball and drive, which is what he is really good at. He likes taking people on and he did it really well today and caused a lot of problems. We’re very happy with him and he worked really well out of possession and that’s what Kane is about, these are the qualities that he’s got.”
“
