Just got back

[Wrexy]

I haven’t been to Borehamwood since 2005. Living just a few miles away in leafy North London we went house-hunting to find a bigger place for our growing family. Within 2 minutes of parking up Mrs Wrexy turns to me and says “we’re not living here…lets go to Enfield instead.” The rest is history. Little has changed in the intervening years The Wood is an ugly place with most people wearing jog-pants it seems. The pubs are few and far between but rammed full of Wrexham but there’s nervousness in the air.

Into the ground early to bagsie one of the seats and the pitch is a thing of beauty. A dozen years ago I once played Vets football here for Enfield Vets and it was like playing at Wembley. But on this pitch you could play any sport including snooker. Ronnie O’Sullivan wouldn’t look out of place potting balls on this pitch. The pubs empty and we’ve got 50.56% of the crowd. 1,038 Wrexham fans are crammed in on three sides but are strangely quiet.

The teams come out and The Wood are the biggest sports team I’ve ever seen in my life and that includes the NBA. Their centre halves are fully 2 inches taller than Ollie Palmer. They play a brand of football uglier than the High Street. In the first 15 minutes three balls are lost out of the ground and another is replaced as its deflated with so much hoof. We have a lot of the ball but are doing nothing with it. The default pass is sideways, and when we have the chance to play it forwards its rarely taken.

Ollie Palmer gives away a silly free kick right in the front of us and the Wood look menacing. The ball hits the post twice and somehow they don’t score. A massive let-off.

Jordan Davies is strangely subdued but then has a rasper that their keeper saves. Then we get a lifeline. With 10 mins to go Agent Fyfield scythes our Local Hero down with a lunge and it’s a clear straight red. Davies is lucky to be able to continue his career as a professional footballer. Dreadful tackle.

Suddenly the spaces open up. Mullin tries to copy Palmer v Southend by scoring from miles out. The chant “what a waste of money” from The Wood’s fans tells you everything on where that ended up. McFadzean has a sitter but it falls on his weaker right foot and flies over the bar. HT and 0-0 is a fair reflection.

We look knackered. A half time double-espresso all round. We awake from our first half slumber and we are so so much better. James Jones sees more of the ball and uses it wisely bringing Hosannah into the game. H’s crossing ability is there to see with balls fired in with pace inbetween keeper and the Haarlem Globetrotters in front of him.

Then we score. The ball is slipped into Mullin who pivots and as the ball pops up lashes a half-valley with the outside of his right foot to the keeper’s right. That was some goal. We need a second but The Wood’s keeper is having the game of his life.

Wrexham reject Scott Boden has an unmarked header 6 yards out but Dibble makes a fine double save.

Then the game changes. Hosannah puts the ball 10 yards past the left back and his hamstring goes as he tries to flash past him. RHJ comes on and we lose our attacking verve.

The Globetrotters win a corner on the right hand side and with a free header their biggest centre half somehow misses the target. How can two CB’s both of whom are 6-6 and over both be unmarked from a corner when we are playing against 10 men! Answers on a postcard.

We make a complete hash of possession on the right hand side. James Jones misplaces a pass and then The Wood press in the left channel. Tyler French flies in with a needless challenge and from 70 yards away we can see it’s an obvious pen. Your Mum is not going to be happy with that one Tyler ! Dibble guesses correctly but the pen is a good one tucked into Dibble’s right hand corner. The Wood call a time-out and the entire team disappears from view celebrating for fluffing ages in the corner.

We finally go for it with both Hyde and Jarvis both now on but we create nothing. The Wood are the more likely team to snatch it but it ends 1-1. A few Wrexham players are on their knees and know that they’ve bottled it. Their keeper gets a deserved round of applause and reciprocates to the Wrexham fans behind him. Tyler French looks as though he’s about to cry.

Tozer asks us for the Stockport score and swears loudly when told (he immediately apologizes for the profanity). He knows, we knows. It’s the play-offs and if we play like this we ain’t getting through them.

[Back of the Kop]

Good summary if a thoroughly frustrating and depressing day Wrexy.

[Wrexy]

Originally Posted by Back of the Kop

Good summary if a thoroughly frustrating and depressing day Wrexy.

I had to stop myself from driving my car straight into a tree on the way home - yes, a very frustrating performance. Never heard 1,000 people leave a football ground so quietly which speaks volumes

[Rob]

Proper write up - thanks! And spot on percentage maths as well.

[ianwxm]

Originally Posted by Rob

Proper write up - thanks! And spot on percentage maths as well.

Does that mean you checked? Would you have mentioned it if he’d got it wrong?

[Wrexham Can]

Originally Posted by ianwxm

Does that mean you checked? Would you have mentioned it if he’d got it wrong?

Could be a maths savant and knows it by just looking at it?

[Wrexham Can]

Another injury concern if Bryce got a hamstring injury. Hopefully they got him off before real damage was done

[mattw]

Originally Posted by Wrexy

I haven’t
.

What a superb write up. Fair play. Got get a drink then hit the showers.
Posted via mobile theme

[Mr Waldo]

Nicely written. I’m surprised however that you didn’t weave Elstree Studios/ Eastenders or Strictly into your intro…