Football: Clayton keeps Alex dreaming

BIG goalkeeper Clayton Ince earned Crewe a precious replay with a breathtaking late save.

Third Division Bournemouth almost snatched an 85th minute goal when busy winger Wade Elliott tried his luck from 25 yards only for Ince to take off to his right to make the spectacular stop.

But if Ince was Crewe's hero for that one save, Bournemouth's star man was also a goalkeeper.

Channel Islander Chris Tardif matched Ince for spectacular keeping with three superb stops in the second half.

Crewe made light of the absence of strikers Rob Hulse, Dean Ashton and Rodney Jack who have 40 between them this season.

Rookie John Miles brought the best out of Tardif in the 50th minute with a low shot pushed to safety. Then, seven minutes later, Tardif dived to his left to push away a goal-bound effort from David Vaughan.

But Tardif, who has twice finished in hospital this season with facial injuries, reserved his best for the 69th minute.

Kenny Lunt floated in a corner which Tardif at full stretch touched onto the bar.

Bournemouth should have been comfortably ahead by the interval.

But unmarked Steve Fletcher volleyed over from 12 yards and Elliott should have done better than shoot across the face of the goal after 18 minutes.

Crewe manager Dario Gradi watched with anxiety as Bournemouth piled on the pressure towards the end.

And full-back David Wright was lucky to escape with only a yellow card for a foul on Danny Thomas in the dying seconds when the winger threatened to race clear.MAN OF THE MATCH CHRIS TARDIF

Outstanding saves under pressure.

BOURNEMOUTH: TARDIF 8, Young 7, J Purches 7, C Fletcher 7, Tindall 6, Elliott 6, O'Connor 7, Browning 6, Thomas 6, S Fletcher 6, Hayter 6.

CREWE: Ince 6, Wright 6, Lunt 7, Walton 7, Foster 7, Brammer 6, Sorvel 7, Vaughan 7, Jones 6, Miles 6, Tierney 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: O'Driscoll 7; Gradi 7.

REFEREE: P Walton 7.

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