Hit-man Hughes gives a master class in finishing

Crewe 0, Athletic 3

LEE HUGHES demonstrated why every effort is being made to keep him at Boundary Park

The sought-after 32-year-old striker scored two stunning Boxing Day goals to help Athletic record their fifth away win of the season in Coca-Cola League One.

Hughes, who took his total for the campaign to 13, provided a master class in finishing after on-loan Darren Byfield had opened the scoring with his first goal for Athletic.

Athletic's victory was the most comfortable of their away-day successes.

And such was the gulf in class – Crewe were hopeless – that they should have registered a more emphatic scoreline.

It was amazing that Athletic, who handed a first start to summer signing Kieran Lee on the right side of midfield, took an hour to break the deadlock.

Even though their first-half display lacked sparkle, Athletic created five clear-cut chances with Hughes firing wide when clean through on goal.

Byfield also had a gilt-edged chance, but pulled his shot wide from 10 yards when he ought to have hit the target.

Crewe created one decent chance, but ’keeper Greg Fleming managed to deflect Eugene Bopp's effort on to a post.

Byfield opened Athletic’s account after a brilliant solo run, cutting in past right-back John Brayford and firing an angled shot past ’keeper Stuart Tomlinson at the near post.

The second goal owed a lot to a powerful run from Lee, who sprayed a pass to Hughes.

The front man cut in from the left and from the edge of the penalty area curled a delightful shot low to the left of Tomlinson.

Hughes came within a whisker of a carbon-copy goal, but Tomlinson dived full length to his left to keep out his shot.

By this time Hughes was running riot and he ghosted in at the near post in the 85th minute to head home a left-wing cross from substitute Lewis Alessandra.

The latter produced an impressive showing in his nine-minute cameo and would also have found the scoresheet but for a fine save from Tomlinson.

CREWE: Tomlinson, Woodards (Daniel 19), O'Donnell, Bopp (Murphy 88), O'Connor, Grant (Donaldson 74), Moore, Carrington, Miller, Brayford, Lawrence. Subs (not used): Collis, Elding.

ATHLETIC: Fleming, Eardley, Hazell, Stam (Gregan 40), Lomax, Lee (O'Grady 88), Allott, Maher, Taylor, Hughes, Byfield (Alessandra 74). Subs (not used): Whitaker, Liddell.

Referee: Mr C L Pawson (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 5,780.

STAR MAN: Lee Hughes - a difficult choice but the quality of his goals edged out hard-working midfield man Mark Allott.