Football: LEETHAL WEAPON; CARLING CUP THIRD ROUND: ALL THE ACTION FROM LAST NIGHT'S MATCHES Fergie's kids leave it late to see off Dario's brave Crewe of battlers.

Byline: DAVID McDONNELL

CREWE 1 MAN UTD 2 (AET)

KIERAN LEE was the saviour for Manchester United after brave Crewe had threatened to send the holders spinning out.

With penalties looming, the substitute, on his debut, raced through with just 90 seconds remaining in extra time and fired confidently past Ben Williams from 20 yards.

It was tough on Dario Gradi's men who had more than matched their illustrious opponents.

United appeared to be on their way to victory after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's fine finish on 26 minutes. But the Old Trafford side were pegged back by Luke Varney 17 minutes from time.

The Crewe forward turned Wes Brown on the edge of the box and fired a smart shot past Tomasz Kuszczak.

Fergie has traditionally used the early rounds to give his fringe players and emerging youngsters a taste of first-team action, and that was again the case last night with a clutch of aspiring stars taking centre stage.

But the game also proved a platform for several of United's established names to continue their rehabilitation from injury, Alan Smith making his first start since suffering a broken foot and dislocated ankle in an FA Cup tie at Liverpool in February.

Gradi's side showed they were not overawed in a pulsating opening 15 minutes in which Kuszczak was twice forced to make superb saves and Crewe had the ball in the back of the net.

In the fifth minute, a cleverly-worked free-kick from Crewe midfielder Ben Rix allowed skipper Neil Cox to head towards the top corner, but Kuszczak produced a fine acrobatic save to tip the effort over.

Crewe thought they had taken the lead in the 16th minute when Varney slotted in after Kuszczak spilled Isaac Osbourne's low drive. But Varney was ruled offside and United were able to breath a collective sigh of relief. It amounted to a nervy opening for the visitors, but any anxiety was lifted in the 26th minute with Solskjaer's opener.

United midfielder Ritchie Jones beat his marker on the right flank and pulled the ball back for Solskjaer, whose volley gave Crewe keeper Williams no chance.

Within a minute of taking the lead, Ferguson's side could have made it 2-0, Williams tipping on to the bar a ferocious shot from Richardson.

United wasted a glorious chance in the 37th minute when clever work from Solskjaer and Richardson sent Ritchie Jones through on goal, with Smith alongside him. Yet instead of taking the best option and feeding the ball to Smith, Jones went for glory, but his shot straight at Williams.

Crewe continued to press in the second half and the equaliser duly came in the 71st minute from Varney.

He ran at Brown, who was beaten by the striker's quick feet and could only watch in anguish as his shot beat Kuszczak and nestled in the net.

Richardson had the chance to wrap up the game in the 85th minute when he was put clean through, but the England midfielder saw his shot hit the post.

CREWE: Williams, Otsemobor, Baudet (O'Donnell 110), Cox, Taylor (Bell 76), Lowe, Rix, Osbourne, Vaughan, Varney, Maynard.

MAN UTD: Kuszczak, Gray (Lee 77), Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, Marsh (Barnes 46), D Jones, R Jones, Richardson, Smith, Solskjaer, Barnes (Shawcross 103).

44% POSSESSION 56%

5 SHOTS ON TARGET 12

7 SHOTS OFF TARGET 3

2 OFFSIDES 4

6 CORNERS 13

7 FOULS 17

0 YELLOW CARDS 3

0 RED CARDS 0

ATTENDANCE: 10.046

MAN OF THE MATCH: Varney

CAPTION(S):

MOB RULE: Players leap on Manchester United goal hero Kieran Lee after his last-gasp winner' BAD LUKE: Varney's in despair after United snatch victory