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Live Commentary: Crewe Alexandra vs. Cheltenham Town

Follow Sports Mole's live text coverage as Crewe Alexandra face Cheltenham Town at Wembley in the League Two playoff final.

Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of today's League Two playoff final between Crewe Alexandra and Cheltenham Town at Wembley.

Crewe, who are unbeaten in 18 matches, finished five points behind Cheltenham in the league table.

The Railwaymen have also won their past three meetings with the Robins, including an 8-1 thrashing at Gresty Road last year.

Both sides are aiming to return to the third tier of English football following a three-year absence, having been relegated together in 2009.

(Please refresh this page for the latest updates)

5.02pm The players have received their medals and lift the trophy aloft to the delight of 15,000 Crewe supporters. Crewe will face the likes of Portsmouth and Coventry City in League One next season. I am off for a cup of tea. Goodbye.

Reaction: Crewe skipper David Artell: "It's fantastic. They [his young teammates] showed today how good they are."

Reaction: Nick Powell on his goal: "To be honest, I just whacked it. There was nothing in that. I just whacked it."

Reaction: Speaking to Sky Sports News, Davis says: "It's a young team and hopefully we can keep them together."

Full time: Crewe 2-0 Cheltenham. Crewe remain unbeaten since February and return to League One in Steve Davis's first season in charge.

90+5 min: Crewe make their final change. Goalscorer Moore is replaced by Lee Bell.

90 min: SIX minutes of stoppage time have been signalled! Nevertheless the game is surely over and belongs to Crewe.

90 min: Clayton almost puts the icing on the cake after good work from Moore, but the youngster is denied by a good block from Brown.

87 min: Crewe are going through the motions and Cheltenham seem to be accepting their fate.

86 min: Attendance is 24,029.

84 min: Crewe are attempting to lock up defensively and are bringing Carl Martin on for Ajay Leitch-Smith.

83 min: Final throw of the dice for Town. James Spencer and Russell Martin are coming on for Marlon Pack and Ben Burgess

82 min: Byron Moore picks the ball up on the right touchline and darts infield, plays a neat one-two with Leitch-Smith before calmly slotting the ball low past Brown into the corner of the net. It should be game over.

82 min: GOAL! Crewe lead 2-0!

80 min: More subs. Max Clayton comes on to replace Powell. I can't help but think that the 18-year-old may have now played his last game for Crewe.

75 min: First substitutions of the game. Darryl Duffy comes on for Jeff Goulding.

72 min: Crewe almost seal it. Adam Dugdale latches on to quick free kick and is denied on the goalline by a determined block from Scott Brown.

70 min: Mohamed beats Harry Davis down the left flank and fires in a low cross that is dived upon by the grateful Phillips.

65 min: The game is going through at little bit of a lull and the heat seems to have subdued the supporters' enthusiasm. Crewe boss Davis gestures to his fans, asking them to get behind the team. They duly respond with a chorus of Blue Moon.

58 min: Crewe put together a passing counter-attack of the highest quality but Leitch-Smith is well shepherded wide by Tootle and the danger is averted.

54 min: A lucky deflection puts Mohamed in the clear but Phillips is out quickly to deny him an equaliser one-on-one.

52 min: McGlashan demonstrates his workrate and commitment to the Cheltenham cause by chasing 60 yards to pressurise Mellor. He is rewarded with a corner that is wasted.

50 min: Luke Summerfield goes on a jinking run down the left flank before teeing up Marlon Pack, who places his 18-yard shot inches wide.

50 min: Cheltenham have started the second half as they ended the first. They are looking the more likely side to strike next.

48 min: Artell isn't nicknamed 'The Rock' for nothing! He is quickly on his feet and play resumes.

47 min: Crewe clear the danger but their skipper, David Artell, is down and requires attention.

46 min: Cheltenham are immediately on the front foot and earn their sixth corner of the game.

46 min: Neither manager has made any substitutions at the break and we are back underway.

Half time stats Cheltenham have dominated in terms of goal attempts [10-5] and shots on target [4-2].

Half time: Crewe 1-0 Cheltenham. Crewe dominated the opening half hour and the Cheshire side have played the better football. However, Cheltenham have caused problems with their direct approach late in the half and Crewe will be delighted to get into the changing rooms with their narrow lead intact.

45 min: OFF THE LINE! We are into the first of three minutes of stoppage time and Cheltenham are bombarding the Crewe goal. Westwood clears Mohamed's shot off the line. There are tame appeals that the ball crossed the line. It didn't.

44 min: Yet another corner, yet another chance. This time for Mohamed who slashes high and wide.

44 min: Another corner, another chance. Goulding rises well but his header is tipped over by Phillips.

43 min: Cheltenham almost catch Crewe napping with short corner routine but Goulding's shot from point-blank range is deflected wide.

41 min: Crewe earn back-to-back corners and almost double their lead, but Kelvin Mellor sends his free header over the bar.

39 min: Powell finds Leitch-Smith in the six-yard box with a crafty through ball but Alan Bennett does well to concede a corner.

37 min: Crewe earn their first corner. It comes to nothing at first but Cheltenham fail to clear properly. Powell collects the ball on the left touchline, cuts inside and flashes a low 25-yard drive that misses by inches. Keeper was beaten.

35 min: Matt Tootle combines with Powell and gets in behind the Robins back line, but his delivery is poor and the ball is cleared.

32 min: Goulding latches on to another Burgess flick on but his finish is wasteful and he skies his shot from 12 yards.

29 min: First corner of the game. It's for Cheltenham and it comes to nothing.

26 min: Another glimpse of Cheltenham's attacking potential. Mohamed finds space 10 yards from goal but hits his volley way over.

25 min: GOAL DISALLOWED! Burgess flicks on to Goulding who finishes well past Phillips in the Crewe goal. Flag is correctly raised though as Goulding was two yards offside.

22 min: Cheltenham look a little scared of Crewe right now, and with good reason. Steve Davis's men are playing with real freedom and look threatening every time they go forward.

17 min: WOODWORK! Cheltenham's response is almost immediate as Jeff Goulding thunders against the crossbar from 30 yards.

15 min: Crewe strike first and what a goal it is. Powell collects the ball on the edge of the D, touches it with his right foot then pivots and pings a glorious left-footed volley that soars into the top corner. Reminiscent of Thierry Henry v Manchester United.

15 min: WONDERGOAL! NICK POWELL! Crewe lead 1-0.

12 min: Cheltenham are beginning to look dangerous on the counter attack as Jermaine McGlashan puts two dangerous crosses into the box that are well dealt with.

9 min: Alex striker Leitch-Smith has the first shot on target from 20 yards... comfortable save for Brown though.

8 min: Crewe look the more dangerous so far. Cheltenham cannot afford to keep giving the ball away like they are right now.

5 min: Ashley Westwood's whipped free kick is headed just over by David Artell, however the Crewe skipper has been penalised for a foul on a Town defender.

3 min: Town's Kaid Mohamed has the first shot of the afternoon, but he screws it hopelessly wide from 20 yards.

2 min: Crewe make a determined start and spend the opening 60 seconds camped inside their opponent's half.

1 min: Referee Craig Pawson blows his whistle and Crewe get us underway.

2.56pm: The national anthem has been sung. Crewe edged a disappointing sing-off, but who will win the main event? Kick off is moments away!

2.54pm: 48 league games and nine months after the domestic season began for these two, it all comes down to this. The players are on the pitch!

2.51pm: Robins boss Mark Yates says that his players have a "steely coolness in their eyes". Meanwhile, Crewe boss Steve Davis says that his players are "nice and relaxed".

2.45pm: Refreshingly, nine of Crewe's starting XI are academy graduates.

2.43pm: Both managers have named lineups full of attacking intent, the sun is beaming down in North London and a fantastic Football League 2011/12 finale is in prospect.

2.33pm: The teams are in! Luke Garbutt and Luke Murphy return from injury for Cheltenham and Crewe respectively. Click here for full teams.

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