Crewe Alexandra have won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for the first time, beating Southend United 2-0 in the final at Wembley Stadium this afternoon.
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The League One side looked the stronger of the two teams from the start, as Max Clayton tested Southend keeper Paul Smith in the opening minute of the game.
Crewe took just five minutes to take the lead, as Byron Moore picked out Luke Murphy inside the penalty area and the midfielder fired the ball into the roof of the net.
Southend's best chance in the opening 45 minutes fell to Ryan Cresswell, but his 34th-minute strike was comfortably saved by Steve Phillips.
The Railwaymen struck again within three minutes of the re-start, Clayton with the strike from inside the six-yard box to double Crewe's lead.
© PA Photos
Phillips had to make saves following efforts from Gavin Tomlin and Sean Clohessy, but the League Two team could not find a way back into the tie.
Ryan Colclough and Ajay Leitch-Smith both had shots saves by Smith late on in the game as they looked to increase their side's lead, but the two-goal advantage was enough to see Crewe lift the trophy.
Sian Cowper
