Match Report

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS: Two defeats in as many games means we will have to get back to winning ways especially as there is not a full fixture list today.

CONDITIONS: Snow

SUM UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE SENTENCE: Not enough chances created from open play

TURNING POINT: Lincoln’s goal at least forced us to change the game plan (eventually)

MAIN INCIDENTS AND GOALS:

Just like at Shrewsbury in midweek the first 30 minutes were a waste of time with both keepers spectators as much as the fans. Wrexham continued with the one man up front and again Walters looked stranded at times with the midfield offering little support.

The only noteworthy chance in the opening half came just after the half hour mark following an awful back pass from Dennis Lawrence that almost setup Lincoln striker Simon Yeo but he could not get on the end of Lawrence’s stray clearance as the game remained goalless.

The game did liven up in the last ten minutes of the first half with Wrexham finally having some decent possession of the ball. Walters almost had an opportunity when the ball broke to him in the box but the ball rebounded off the Wrexham striker into the arms of a grateful keeper.

Wrexham were awarded a free kick twenty five yards from goal but this failed to find the target in a half that was bereft of any chances and it was no surprise that the game was goalless at the break.

Lincoln looked bright and if it wasn’t for the offside trap they would have been in on Wrexham’s goal on at least two occasions.  Lincoln did take the lead in the 63rd minute and although it wasn’t against the run of play, it was a break away goal after Wrexham, and Danny Williams in particular, was caught up field in possession of the ball.

Wrexham were awarded a free kick that Darren Ferguson laid off to Williams. Williams advanced 15 yards unchallenged and just when you though he was about to let fly he ran into a crowd of Lincoln players who dispossessed him. Wrexham were now caught flat footed and Lincoln broke quickly down their right and with every pass into space the Wrexham defence looked more and more out of position. Eventually a ball was played in from the right and after it missed the Lincoln attacker in the centre the ball evaded Lee Roche and broke to Simon Yeo who placed the ball past Ingham who had been wrong footed after the player in the centre had missed the ball.

Robbie Foy was about to come on at this point but it took over five minuets for the on loan striker to be introduced along with Jamie Reed with Matt Crowell and Dean Bennett leaving the field. By this point Lincoln could have extended their lead when Ingham had to tip a shot over the bar from which a short corner was taken and Keates fired into the arms of Ingham from the edge of the area.

Wrexham had half chances at best and on a number of occasions the Lincoln defence had to make last ditch lunges to block strikes on their goal. Wrexham were awarded a free kick for handball but Ferguson’s effort from twenty five yards drifted into the arms of Marriott who had a comfortable afternoon up to this point.

Five minutes later and Lincoln were again penalised on the edge of the area after a defender had climbed all over Jon Walters. This time Andy Holt took the set play and blasted the free kick through the wall only to see his effort blocked in the area and Lincoln managed to scramble the ball away.

Shaun Pejic had to make a challenge on the edge of the area to deny Yeo but Lincoln almost put the game beyond Wrexham when Birch squared the ball back to substitute Ryan but he could only fire at the feet of Ingham and Wrexham cleared.

The game went into injury time with three minutes to be added on and in the second of these minutes Wrexham equalised through Mark Jones. Andy Holt picked the ball up on the left and after breaking past a couple of players the wingback looked as if he lost control of the ball but managed to fire in a low cross. Mark Jones controlled it with a superb first touch, wrong footing the Lincoln defence, and this allowed the midfielder to turn and curl an unstoppable shot past Marriott from twelve yards.

Wrexham now looked like the team most likely and almost broke clear in the last minute of injury time with the Lincoln players leaving the pitch with their heads in their hands.

OPPOSITION AND FANS: The biggest surprise today is that Lincoln played some football on the ground! Considering all the upheaval this week they played well and looked strong at the back. About 200 fans made the trip from Lincolnshire and will return home disappointed after the late goal.

OFFICIALS: Let the game go and did well to keep his cards in his pocket considering the slippery conditions following the snow showers.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Cannot pick one as no one player stood out above the rest.

IF YOU WERE DENIS SMITH: Looks as if the Grimsby result has knocked the confidence out of us but we are in desperate need of a striker.

Match Reaction

Listen to Denis Smith speaking to BBC Radio Wales

Listen to Andy Holt speaking to BBC Radio Wales

Listen to Keith Alexander speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Denis Smith: "I though the first half we were in control, in fact we were in control for most of the game. They only had two chances, one from a back pace and the other from our free-kick. In the second half we played the game more like Lincoln and we probably played three or four systems today because we haven't got a striker at the moment. In the first half we were very patient. We created little half chances but once they got the goal we started to get frustrated. The real problem at the moment is that we can't keep a clean sheet and we need to do this if we are going to improve. Mark Jones had an excellent first half but didn't do so well after the break because we changed the system. In the first 45 minutes we gave him more freedom, which allowed him to get forward more. That said I'd rather he played poorly and scored! I'm still on the lookout for a striker and I know I can get one in, the important part is making sure that it is the right one. I released Paul Warhurst because it looked as though we were going to get a new player in on Thursday but that fell through at the last moment. I'll be back on the phone again on Monday." [Source: Wrexham AFC]

Wrexham

Starting XI:

01	Michael Ingham
18	Shaun Pejic
08	Danny Williams
06	Dennis Lawrence 45'
12	Dean Bennett 69'
15	Lee Roche
16	Matt Crowell 69'
17	Mark Jones
10	Darren Ferguson
07	Andy Holt
09	Jon Walters

Subs:

03	Alex Smith
04	Dave Bayliss 45'
13	Michael Jones (GK)
14	Robbie Foy 69'
27	Jamie Reed 69'

Stats:

Lincoln City

Starting XI:

01	Alan Marriott
17	Colin Cryan
04	Gareth McAuley
06	Jamie McCombe
03	Paul Mayo 5'
11	Scott Kerr
21	Luke Foster
22	Dean keates
09	Francis Green 85'
29	Simon Yeo 85'
24	Jeff Hughes

Subs:

08	Gary Birch 85'
15	Steve Robinson
18	Oliver Ryan 85'
23	Nat Brown 5'
27	Leon Mettam

Stats:

Match Notes

Other Match Reports

BBC Radio Wales Match Report

BBC Radio Lincolnshire Match Report

BBC: Wrexham 1-1 Lincoln

Lincoln City FC: Wrexham 1 Lincoln City 1

TEAMtalk: Jones earns Wrexham point

Wrexham AFC: Wrexham 1 Lincoln City 1

Wrexham MAD: Wrexham 1 Lincoln City 1

League 2 Results

Boston United 3 Macclesfield 1
Carlisle 4 Bury 0
Notts County 3 Darlington 2
Oxford United 0 Shrewsbury 3
Peterborough 2 Rushden & Diamonds 0
Wrexham 1 Lincoln City 1

League 2 Table

Next Game

Newport County (a), FAW Premier Cup QF

Tuesday 10 January 2006, Kick Off @ 19:00