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Match Notes

EARLY STRIKE SEALS VICTORY

By Mark Williams

Pre-match thoughts: The international break has allowed key players time to recover and looking to build on the win against Barnsley to climb back up the league.

Conditions: Windy with light rain towards the end.

Tactics: Same as Barnsley with Denis Smith continuing with a 3-4-1-2 with Llewellyn as support man.

Sum up the performance in one sentence: Confident display with another clean sheet.

Turning point: Bradford’s Lee Crooks sending off after 66 minutes as from this point on the visitors did not look dangerous.

Main incidents and goals:

0-15 minutes: Wrexham started off on fire opening the scoring after 83 seconds when Dennis Lawrence added the finishing touch to a flowing move. The move started on the right wing with Dean Bennett but with no support being provided by any Wrexham player he managed to win a throw in despite being surrounded by three Bradford players. From the throw Bennett picked out Armstrong with his back to goal on the edge of the area and after controlling the ball Armstrong picked out Dennis Lawrence on the opposite side of the area and he laid the ball off to Chris Llewellyn on the left. Llewellyn’s inside pass was collected by Hector Sam and his clever through ball was perfect for Lawrence, who was only back from international duty on Friday, to run onto in the area before he calmly picked his spot and shot under the body of Bradford ‘keeper Paul Henderson. Wrexham were awarded a couple of free kicks but on both occasions the wall blocked the shot from Danny Williams and from the second effort the ball rebounded to Dean Bennett and his first time volley was well struck but was blocked by the Bradford defence. Score 1-0 Wrexham.

15-30 minutes: Andy Dibble was very lucky after 17 minutes when he misjudged the flight of the ball and the dimensions of his area as he caught a cross from the left just inside the D. Bradford were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area and there were nervous moments as match referee Mark Warren reached for his pocket but thankfully a yellow card was shown. As the free kick was from only 18 yards, Dean Windass’ only option was to try a low shot and this went narrowly wide of Dibble’s post as the ‘keeper was left rooted to the spot. At the other end of the pitch Sam, who was full of energy and the usual unpredictability, should have extended Wrexham’s lead in the twentieth minute. Dean Bennett, who had another good game on the right wing, delivered a deep cross to the far post and Sam managed to get in ahead of the defender but his header back across goal was not downward and the ball was deflected away to safety. Bradford were awarded another free kick when Steve Roberts fouled Steven Schumacher but Windass was again off target as his 25 yard shot sailed over. Score 1-0 Wrexham.

30-45 minutes: Chris Armstrong came close to extended Wrexham’s lead following another good cross from Dean Bennett on the right but Armstrong’s glancing header from the edge of the area drifted narrowly wide of the far post. Dean Windass had a goal disallowed when he was ruled offside as he powered above Shaun Pejic to power a header from Dibble but the referee had already blown his whistle and the goal was ruled out. As the game entered first half injury time Bradford should have been on level terms. They were awarded a free kick far out on the Wrexham left that was pumped into the box by Wayne Jacobs. Dean Windass, who caused Wrexham problems all game, flicked the ball on across the face of goal to Dele Adebola. Adebola got the better of Pejic on this occasion and hit an instant shot on the turn but Dibble reacted superbly to turn the powerful shot away for a corner that he came to claim with ease. Half Time 1-0 Wrexham.
 

Lawrence and pejic were excellent all match. Their player who was sent off deserved to go.

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45-60 minutes: It came as a real surprise that this was Dibble’s last contribution of the game as he was replaced at half time with Alex Smith for his debut. Steve Roberts also picked up an injury towards the end of the first half and he made way for Craig Morgan as well. Dean Windass took full advantage of the inexperience in Wrexham’s defence when he shrugged of the presence of Morgan with ease but Tom Kearney lacked composure as he screwed the through ball wide without testing Alex Smith. Wrexham were having a lot of joy on the counter attack and with the pace of Sam this always proves a useful outlet. Sam skipped passed full back Wayne Jacobs with ease and was soon advancing into the penalty area but he decided to shoot against defender Mark Bower with Armstrong free at the far post. The ball did rebound to Armstrong but it was at such a pace he could not do anything with it. Score 1-0 Wrexham.

60-75 minutes: Buoyant with the opening goal Dennis Lawrence went on one of his now customary runs form the edge of the area to the half way line where he laid the ball off to Chris Llewellyn. Llewellyn went on a run of his own, as Lawrence continued to join the attackers, but Llewellyn, rather selfishly, took a shot at goal that was not really on and all Lawrence’s efforts were wasted. With Bradford in the ascendancy, apart from the odd Wrexham breakaway, they were cut down in their stride as midfielder Lee Crooks was shown red for a second bookable offence in the 66th minute. He could not argue with either booking, as he was first cautioned early on for kicking the ball away, and in the second half his dangerous challenge on Dennis Lawrence deserved the second yellow card. Score 1-0 Wrexham.

75-90 minutes: Bradford’s efforts now resembled desperation with one shot even finding the second tier of the away end! They did come close when Windass’ header drifted narrowly wide after he lost Morgan inside the box. There were some more nervous moments towards the end of the game but the positioning of the Wrexham defenders allowed them to scramble away the danger on each occasion. When they didn’t manage to do this the Bradford shooting was all off target as Alex Smith had a comfortable second half for his first game in Wrexham’s goal. Final score 1-0 Wrexham

Opposition and fans: Bradford did spray the ball around comfortably but they lacked any cutting edge up front and could do with some pace to complement the power of Dean Windass. 400 made the trip from West Yorkshire but were rather quiet except for the booing of referee Mark Warren at the end.

Officials: I thought Mark Warren had a good game. He could not do anything but send the lad off and it was very funny when Dean Windass decided to throw his toys out of the pram after he was penalised for a clear handball and talked himself into the book.

Man of the match: Dennis Lawrence was the sponsors choice but I would have gone for Dean Bennett who delivered decent balls from the wing and was solid in defence winning a number of throw ins with clever deflections when he had no right to do so.

If you were Denis Smith: Pleased with the clean sheet but disappointed not to have built on the early lead.

Post match thoughts: Assured display at home and to remain unbeaten at the Racecourse is another plus point. Only concern is the lack of goals we are taking with the chances created.

Jump To: Match Stats, Match Report, Other Reports, Other Match Reports, Audio Reports and Quotes, Press Conference Quotes, League 1 Results, League Table.

Wrexham AFC: Reds win Thriller

Red Passion Soccer Saturday Audio Report with Mark Williams  (WindowsMedia Format)

Denis Smith: "If you look what's happened, I never intended to play Darren the full 90 minutes while big Dennis only arrived home last night and his ankle is still a bit sore, but he has scored a goal worthy of winning any game. The youngsters that came in, Pej and Morgs, have done ever so well; then Matty Baker's also had his debut, although I don't think he really had anything to do which is important because I thought we defended well. We made two changes at half-time and then Dean Bennett picked up a sore thigh, so I was thinking 'Do we make the final sub?' but then somebody else goes down. So in the end we didn't bring Jim on until right at the death. There are other aspects which still need looking at, but overall it was a pleasing performance. We did look a bit ring rusty at times, like we haven't played for two weeks, but three points is three points. To stop their front two scoring was an achievement. I thought Dean Windass was superb and at the back David Wetherall showed why he's played at the very top level. It was an extremely competitive game with tackles flying in from both sides, but it shows we can look after ourselves." [Source: Wrexham AFC]

Results

Barnsley

0-0

Tranmere Rovers

8,615

Bournemouth

Stockley 74' (og)

1-3

Colchester United

Fagam 10'

Williams 24'

May 79'

5,944

Bristol City

Tinnion 11'

Roberts 24'

Lita 31' 80'

Heffernan 79'

5-0

Stockport County

10,811

Hull City

Green 14'

Elliott 57'

2-1

Blackpool

Taylor 37'

15,568

Luton Town

Vine 49'

1-0

Chesterfield

Blatherwick sent off 75'

Nicholson Sent Off 90'

7,532

Milton Keynes

0-1

Doncaster Rovers

Albrighton 66'

4,334

Oldham Athletic

Eyre 43'

Betsy 60'

Johnson 82'

3-2

Hartlepool United

Westwood 78'

Griffin 90' (og)

5,805

Port Vale

0-3

Huddersfield Town

Abbott 62' 67' 75'

6,298

Swindon Town

0-1

Peterborough United

Jenkins 34'

5,777

Torquay United

Wardley 38' 48'

2-2

Brentford

Hargreaves 69'

Sodje 77'

3,458

Walsall

Standing 39'

1-1

Sheffield Wednesday

Whelan 16'

6,403

Wrexham

Lawrence 2'

1-0

Bradford City

Crooks Sent Off 66'

3,712

League Table