Hughie Reed, the Scottish winger who started his career at West Bromwich Albion. earned his latest club a League Cup third round replay with five minutes remaining at Gresty Road last night.

Reed had come on as a substitute for Les Wain only ten minutes before and his low 20 yard shot ended a sweeping move.

The Fourth Division side, who beat Birmingham City in the last round will be at Villa Park next Monday.

It was an astonishing end to mediocre match.

A minute after the equaliser Dennis Nelson was sent off for fouling Chico Hamilton and then arguing about the decision and two minutes later Chris Duffey, Crewe’s other scorer, became the fifth player to be cautioned.

Earlier referee Peter Willis, a policeman from County Durham, booked lan Ross and Villa’s two scorers Sammy Morgan and Keith Leonard.

He also cautioned Crewe goalkeeper Geoff Crudgington, who used to play for Villa.

That’s five booked and one sent off - it sounds fascinating but it was mostly dull.

The football never matched the atmosphere generated by the 12,290 crowd and Mr. Willis was over-officious - he followed the League’s instructions, but far too closely.

Morgan, back after missing three matches with a stomach injury, opened the scoring after ten minutes when Crudgington could only block Ray Graydon’s shot.

The goalkeeper’s name was then taken for, of all things, hands. He caught Morgan’s chip when standing out of his area and Ross was booked for breaking too quickly from a defensive wall - both technical offences.

Then Morgan upset the referee by hooking Tommy Lowry’s feet away, and the centre forward had another long lecture just before halftime.

Crewe had pressed towards the end of the the first half but without suggesting that they could do anything inside the penalty area.

Four minutes after the interval they altered that impression.

Player-coach Albert Kinsey, whose skill had stood out throughout, crossed from the left and Duffey jumped high at the far post with Charlie Aitken but got his head to the ball with Jim Cumbes diving needlessly.

For eight minutes Crewe looked as if they might kill another giant but then Hamilton’s long pass up the left was picked up by Morgan.

He bustled past Phil Nicholls, tapped the ball inside and Leonard scored.

Crudgington complained that Morgan had fouled Nicholls but Villa were now in control although Leonard leant on Ray Lugg to get his caution.

Then came Crewe manager Jimmy Melia’s inspired substitution and the remarkable end.

Meanwhile, Villa manager Ron Saunders would not comment yesterday about Oldham’s action In reporting him to the FA for remarks made after Saturday’s match.

Saunders was quoted as calling Oldham’s Alan Groves a “high diver” after ViIIa full-back John Gidman had been sent off following two fouls on the winger.

When Groves was told of the substance of the remarks he confronted Saunders in the Lancashire club’s guest room and yesterday the Oldham general manager, Walter Griffiths, announced that “the board had decided to report the matter to the FA.”