Crewe Alex were in action at two venues on Tuesday night as their pre-season preparations stepped up a gear.
Manager David Artell sent a squad to face Witton Albion at Wincham Park and another to play Curzon Ashton at the Tameside Stadium, in Crewe's third and fourth warm-up fixtures of the summer.
The Alex started with a 2-1 defeat at Nantwich Town but followed up with a 6-0 demolition of Altrincham on Saturday.
The boss split the squads up evenly, with a mixture of youth and experience at both of the two non-league sides.
Trialists Paul Taylor and Christian Mbulu are expected to be in action, as well as two more trialists from Bristol City who arrived at the club on Monday.
It was an interesting evening as the manager again experimented with different combinations and tactics, as well as getting more fitness into the legs of the players.
And it went well, with a bumper 5-1 win at Curzon and a 3-0 success at Witton.
Here's how it all panned out, including details on the new trialists.
Artell on two-goal man Daniel Powell
That’s what we have brought him to the club for, to score goals. He’s good technically and he’s a handful.
More from the manager
We’ve done one or two sessions on patterns, we did a session yesterday on throw-ins which I’m sure the supporters will be happy about, and we are taking the first steps towards nailing down what we want.
You can see bits of it. It’s another win and it is good to get that feeling, it’s a good habit and you can’t take that away from them.
Reaction: David Artell on Witton win
It was the first time a lot of them have got 90 minutes, and as far as I know we have no injuries.
It’s a clean sheet, although in the first half we had some hairy moments, and this was about making sure we can last the games.
Now we will go into Saturday looking for another improvement. There is still plenty to work on.
Stay with us
Stay with us as we try to bring you reaction from David Artell, on a night where Crewe scored 8 goals and conceded just one.
Late challenge from Owen Dale, keen to impress at the club where he spent time on loan, earns him a telling off from the referee
Another good move from Crewe sees Witton opened up, but Finney is denied by a good save from a the keeper - who comes and claims the resultant corner
GOAL: Witton 0 Crewe 3
A lovely goal from the Alex is forged by Travis Johnson who drove down the right before drilling across goal for Shaun Miller to tap home from close range
Penalty claims
Owen Dale tricks is way into the box and goes down under a challenge, but the referee waves appeals away
Oliver Finney has looked strong at Witton tonight, running forward from deep with purpose and ideas.
Sub: Dale on for Powell
That’s the end of the evening for the two-goal man. David Artell will be pleased with the early signs from Powell. Not just because he has scored three goals so far, but because two have come in the six-yard box and the other inside the 18 yard box.S
GOAL: Witton 0 Crewe 2
It’s another for Powell, who turns quickly in the box after a pass to feet from Jones. The new signing drilled low into the bottom corner to make it 2-0
Great move involving Lundstram, Jones and Finney resulted in a powerful strike by Ainley which was parried to safety by the Witton keeper
The teams are back out at Witton. In truth Crewe are fortunate to be winning so the manager, and the watching chairman, will be looking for an improvement
Regan Griffiths pulls the trigger from just outside the area but it’s an easy save for the Albion keeper
