Wrexham 1
Port Vale 1

Saturday 21 August 2004 @ 15:00

MATCH STATS

Score and Scorers

Wrexham 1 Port Vale 1
Andy Holt 72' Stephen Brooker 64'

Starting Line Ups

Wrexham Port Vale
01 Andy Dibble 24 Jonny Brain
04 Steve Roberts 02 George Pilkington
05 Brian Carey 12 Dean Smith
06 Dennis Lawrence 06 Sam Collins
12 Dean Bennett 10 Billy Paynter
08 Danny Williams 13 Levi Reid
10 Darren Ferguson 16 Steve Rowland
03 Alex Smith 20 Robin Hulbert 73'
19 Andy Holt 03 Craig James
23 Hector Sam 07 Lee Matthews
11 Chris Llewellyn 70' 09 Stephen Brooker

Substitutes

Wrexham Port Vale
09 Chris Armstrong 70' 01 Mark Goodlad (GK)
13 Matt Smith (GK) 11 Jeff Smith
18 Shaun Pejic 14 Ryan Brown 73'
20 Simon Spender 15 Ian Armstrong
21 Levi Macken 17 Christopher Birchall

Yellow and Red Cards

Wrexham Port Vale

65'

Chris Llewellyn - Foul on Steve Rowland

51'

Craig James - Dissent

90'

Darren Ferguson - Dissent 62' Robin Hulbert - Foul on Alex Smith

Stat Attack

Wrexham Port Vale
12 Shots on Goal 7
4 Shots on Target 3
10 Fouls Committed 9
8 Corners 4
2 Yellow Card 2
0 Red Card 0

Match Notes

Venue: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 5,005
Referee: Trevor Parkes - Birmingham Half Time: 0-0
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MATCH REPORT

Wrexham lack that Cutting Edge

By Mark Williams

Pre-match thoughts: Looking to build on the good start to the season and bounce back from the defeat at Brentford last weekend.

Conditions: Sunny spells with a cooling wind. Not bad for football.

Tactics: No real surprises in that it was the same system as usual. There was one change in personnel with Dean Bennett making his league debut for Wrexham as a replacement for the injured Jim Whitley on the right wing.

Sum up the performance in one sentence: Lacked a cutting edge up front.

Turning point: Chris Armstrong replacing Chris Llewellyn gave Wrexham a presence up front.

Main incidents and goals:

0-15 minutes: Port Vale started the brighter and had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring in the first five minutes following a mistake by Dennis Lawrence. The ball was delivered in from the right wing by Levi Read and Lawrence looked certain to clear the danger but just missed the ball and it bounced into the path of Lee Matthews who now had a free shot from twelve yards out; but thankfully for Wrexham he completely mis-controlled the ball as it rebounded of him into the grateful arms of Andy Dibble. Port Vale were then awarded a free kick twenty yards out on the left side of the area following a needless foul by Brian Carey on Lee Brooker. This time Lee Matthews was on target as he curled a well struck shot around the wall and it took a flying save from Andy Dibble to tip the ball over for a corner as it looked destined to burst into the top corner. At the other end of the pitch Wrexham came closest when Vale defender Steve Rowland completely sliced his clearance at the back post from Steve Roberts’ right wing cross and he watched in agony as the ball skewed wide of the far post. Wrexham forced a succession of corners and although the Port Vale defence and keeper Jonny Brain looked uncomfortable with the balls in they managed to clear the danger. Score 0-0.

15-30 minutes: The game started to enter a quiet spell will little creativity from either side. Alex Smith came the closest for Wrexham when he took up Andy Holt’s pass in from the left wing and his shot to the near post was spilled away for a corner by the nervous Brain in the Vale goal. Port Vale managed to get in down the right but nobody was on the end of Levi Read’s cross as the ball flashed across the face of Dibble’s goal. Hector Sam tried his luck from outside of the area but his 20 yard effort was dragged wide. With both midfields cancelling each other out and not looking to break forward it came as no real surprise as the game remained goalless. Score 0-0.

30-45 minutes: Wrexham’s best chance of the half came eight minutes before half time. Wrexham were awarded a free kick on the left and Vale managed to clear Ferguson’s set piece to the right wing. Dean Bennett picked the ball up and delivered a perfect cross to the far post where Dennis Lawrence, still in the box from the earlier free kick, rose above his man and headed the ball downwards towards goal and Brain this time did well to turn it away for a corner. Lawrence did everything right but could have done with the ball bouncing just before Brain and this would have made the save more difficult. Half Time 0-0.
 

I thought probably a draw was a fair result. Armstrong is looking a lot better this season and deserves a starting place for the next game.

paulm on the Red  Passion messageboard
click here to have your say

45-60 minutes: With no changes at half time from either side the second half followed a similar pattern to the first with a lot of possession in midfield but both teams finding it difficult to turn this possession into clear cut openings. Wrexham did fashion two chances for striker Chris Llewellyn but on both occasions he failed to hit the target from within the box. Andy Holt delivered another good cross from the left and Llewellyn leaped above the Vale defence but his attempt to steer the ball with a header resulted in the ball narrowly missing the far post. Llewellyn then should have done better with Sam’s lay off inside of the area but with his favoured left foot he leant back at the wrong moment and ballooned his shot over the bar. Score 0-0.

60-75 minutes: With Wrexham in control the inevitable opening goal for Vale came in the 64th minute against the run of play but it was a goal that could have been prevented. Port Vale forced a corner down the right and Craig James swung the ball across the Wrexham six yard box. With Andy Dibble routed to the spot, despite the ball crossing the six yard box, Stephen Brooker was somehow left unmarked and he had the simple task with a free header from close range to open the scoring for the visitors. Chris Armstrong was introduced six minutes later for the ineffective Chris Llewellyn and within two minutes of coming off provided the assist for Andy Holt’s equaliser – his first goal for Wrexham. Like Wrexham eight minutes earlier, Port Vale could have prevented the goal as they stood off Chris Armstrong in the penalty area as he received Dean Bennett’s throw. Armstrong controlled the ball and acrobatically flicked it over his head to the far post where Andy Holt got ahead of his marker and steered the ball back across goal with a powerful header that gave Brain no chance of saving. Score 1-1.

75-90 minutes: Wrexham continued to press in search of the winner and it was Chris Armstrong who was causing all the problems for the Vale defence. The height that Armstrong offers allowed Wrexham to retain possession further up the field and this resulted in Wrexham achieving a foot hold in the Vale half. From a Darren Ferguson corner on the left Armstrong leaped above the Vale defence and narrowly powered a header over the bar. Then from Dean Bennett’s right wing centre Armstrong beat his marker to the ball but his shot on the turn went narrowly wide of the near post. The game eventually played out but there was still time for Darren Ferguson to pick up his second booking of the season for descent when Port Vale were correctly awarded a goal kick. To make matters worse the referee blew up for full time moments later. Full Time 1-1.

Opposition and fans: Port Vale looked surprising organised for a team that has conceded seven goals this season but they did look to lack any power up front. Probably around 1,300 made the short trip from the Potteries and were in fair voice.

Officials: I had a lot of fear when Trevor Parkes was appointed match referee but his decisions were far from controversial and had a good game. A pleasant surprise!

Man of the match: Could not argue with Andy Holt although Alex Smith again pushed him hard. Holt had a good game on the left delivering some decent crosses and was composed at the back. Also took his goal well.

If you were Denis Smith: Play Chris Armstrong for the start in the next game.

Post match thoughts: Concerned at the lack of chances we are creating and disappointed that the midfield did not support the front two enough. Darren Ferguson is playing as support man but it is clear that he lacks the stamina to play in that position effectively for the full ninety minutes.

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DETAILED MATCH REPORTS
Port Vale FC: MATCH REPORTS Wrexham v Port Vale
Wales on Sunday: Holt earns frustrated Wrexham a point
Wrexham AFC: Wrexham 1 Port Vale 1
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AUDIO REPORTS AND QUOTES

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

Match Report with Steve James of BBC Radio Wales  (WindowsMedia Format)
Listen to Denis Smith speaking to BBC Radio Wales  (WindowsMedia Format)
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PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Denis Smith: "I thought we edged it, especially in the second half, when we dominated, but perhaps not created enough chances. Put it this way, Martin Foyle is happy with a point, but I'm disappointed to have only got the one! The introduction of Chris Armstrong livened things up and it amazing how often that happens. Having said that, he than missed a chance that would expect him to take. Maybe if he had been on the pitch for a little long, he would have done, but normally he would have hit the target. Being positive though, it was a cracking game and we did a lot of things right. Especially when all three centre backs were big doubts before the match and even at 1.15pm I didn't thing Steve Roberts had any chance, yet, he and the others fought their way through it and performed well." [Source: Wrexham AFC]

Martin Foyle: "We deserved a point as we battled and scrapped well against a very well organised side. We had a game-plan and how it worked! Wrexham can be a very dangerous side, especially at home, and not many teams will leave the Racecourse with a point this season." [Source: Wales on Sunday]
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LEAGUE ONE

Results

Bristol City

Doherty 45'

1-2

Swindon Town

Henderson 23' 60'

Duke Sent Off 81'

13,389

 

Chesterfield

N'Toya 9' 55'

2-1

Colchester United

Johnson 44'

Hunt Sent Off 67'

4,028

 

Doncaster Rovers

0-0

Tranmere Rovers

6,040

 

Hartlepool United

Williams 24'

1-1

Blackpool

Taylor 72'

5,144

 

Hull City

Allsopp 27'

Green 45'

2-0

Oldham Athletic

16,916

 

Luton Town

Howard 36'

1-0

Torquay United

6,664

 

Milton Keynes Dons

Smart 49' (p)

1-3

Bournemouth

Hayter 21' 76'

Fletcher 90'

3,230

 

Peterborough United

Platt 20'

Legg 46'

Clarke 53'

3-0

Brentford

4,868

 

Sheffield Wednesday

MacLean 21'

1-0

Huddersfield Town

26,264

 

Stockport County

0-1

Bradford City

Windass 76'

5,338

 

Walsall

Fryatt 36'

Wrack 89'

2-2

Barnsley

Vaughan 16'

Conlon 49'

6,059

 

Wrexham

Holt 72'

1-1

Port Vale

Brooker 64'

5,005

 

League Table

Pos Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Luton Town 4 2 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 7 5 4 12
2 Hull 4 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 1 5 3 5 9
3 Colchester United 4 2 0 0 5 3 1 0 1 4 2 4 9
4 Sheffield Wednesday 4 1 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 6 3 1 9
5 Peterborough United 4 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 1 3 4 3 7
6 Bradford City 4 1 1 0 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 2 7
7 Hartlepool United 4 1 1 0 3 2 1 0 1 3 2 2 7
8 Chesterfield 4 2 0 0 5 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 7
9 Port Vale 4 2 0 0 6 4 0 1 1 3 4 1 7
10 Wrexham 4 1 1 0 3 2 1 0 1 3 3 1 7
11 Tranmere Rovers 4 2 0 0 3 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 7
12 Swindon Town 4 1 0 1 4 4 1 0 1 3 3 0 6
13 Brentford 4 2 0 0 5 3 0 0 2 1 6 -3 6
14 Bournemouth 4 0 2 0 4 4 1 0 1 3 2 1 5
15 Barnsley 4 1 0 1 5 5 0 2 0 3 3 0 5
16 Walsall 4 1 1 0 5 4 0 1 1 5 7 -1 5
17 Doncaster 4 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 3 6 -1 4
18 Huddersfield Town 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 3 3 -2 4
19 Stockport County 4 0 0 2 2 4 1 0 1 6 3 1 3
20 Oldham Athletic 4 1 0 1 7 6 0 0 2 1 4 -2 3
21 Bristol City 4 0 1 1 2 3 0 1 1 3 4 -2 2
22 Wimbledon 4 0 1 1 2 4 0 0 2 3 5 -4 1
23 Torquay 4 0 0 2 2 7 0 1 1 1 2 -6 1
24 Blackpool 4 0 0 2 1 6 0 1 1 1 3 -7 1
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