Crewe Vagrants 3 Kingston-upon-Hull 2.

IN their clash with fellow-NHL Premiership strugglers on Saturday Vagrants’ self-belief once again deserted them when seemingly coasting towards victory.

Looking comfortable at half-time, Crewe then began to wobble and, instead of converting chances to extend their two-goal cushion and kill off the game, found their lead suddenly halved.

Vagrants got away to a flying start with a goal after five minutes by Mike Baddiley, and their defence appeared.

On 15 minutes Hull broke through and hooked high into the net to equalise. It was not long before Crewe retook the lead at 2-1 when Dave Holland connected with James Capper’s cross and sent the ball trickling over the line into an empty goal.

Just three minutes later James Meek scored from the follow-up to a short corner to make it 3-1.

Now well in command Vagrants were having the best of the possession and pressing on goal, but their passes began to go worryingly astray and a fast Hull break brought a fine save from keeper Andy Farr.

Crewe replied with an excellent attack by Baddiley and Tim Alexander, foiled by the visiting keeper, but Hull finished the half pressing on the home goal, giving notice of their ability to threaten in the second half.

Vagrants resumed encouragingly with good attacking runs by Holland and Baddiley, but were giving the ball away and missed two precious early chances to go further ahead when a short corner effort flew just wide and Holland went agonizingly close.

They paid the penalty on six minutes when Hull clinically converted a corner to pull up to 3-2 and unsettle the home side.

After an intense period of attack and counter-attack by both teams, Crewe came under severe pressure, Jon Woodhart and Mark Ritchie crucially clearing two rapidly consecutive drives off the line.

Andrew Ashworth had a further chance, but shot wide, and Hull duly replied with a fierce attack, smothered by Farr, a dangerous break by a solo forward, tackled by Woodhart, and two successive corners, both saved. Their slender lead was, in the event, enough to take the points Hopefully, with a long overdue win now chalked up, Vagrants’ self-confidence will increase and they will begin to relax when ahead and convert winning positions into unassailable ones.