Match Report

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS: Will do well to come a way with a draw due to the injuries and call ups leaving us short at the back.

CONDITIONS: Sunny start and remained dry throughout although the temperature dropped when the sun went down.

TACTICS: Same 3-5-2 formation but with Dave Bayliss on the right side of defence, Danny Williams starting in the centre with Mike Williams making his debut on the left. Matt Crowell made his first start of the season in midfield and Dean Bennett slotted in on the left in the absence of Alex Smith who had been ill during the week.

SUM UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE SENTENCE: Assured at the back and took the chances when they presented themselves.

TURNING POINT: Dean Bennett racing back to clear the ball off the line at the start of the second half when the score was still 1-0.

MAIN INCIDENTS AND GOALS:

With Wrexham starting with a patched up side it was Oxford who started the brighter but failed to create any noteworthy opportunities. In fact it was Wrexham who had the first chance when a back header from Ashton almost did not carry and Turley had to rush off his line to block an attempted lob from Jon Walters.

Matt Crowell marked his first start of the season in the only way he can, when a rash challenge earned a caution and he was lucky to stay on the pitch when another late tackle on Bradbury only resulted in a final warning from referee Ray Oliver. Wrexham then forced a succession of corners but when a Wrexham head finally connected with one of Ferguson’s crosses McEvilly’s effort went narrowly over.

Wrexham were certainly making a mark on the game and on the Oxford players as a rash challenge from Bayliss resulting in the defender going in the book after he went right through ex-Wrexham striker Steve Basham.

Danny Williams looked assured at the back and won almost every challenge that came his way. A couple of these challenges were crucial midway through the first half when Oxford broke quickly from a Wrexham attack and Williams found himself defending one on one against striker Eric Stabin.

This challenge came on the half hour mark and it was the start of sustained pressure from Oxford that resulted in two more chances for the home side. Basham headed the first chance over and then Mansell had a shot from outside of the area blocked by his team mate.

With Wrexham having to soak up some pressure they took the lead six minutes before half time following a mistake by defender Willmott when he slipped whilst chasing the ball with Jon Walters. This allowed Walters to break free down the right wing and his cross to the centre was perfect for the unmarked McEvilly. The Wrexham striker took one touch to control the ball and smashed his shot under Turley from about twelve yards out.

Oxford made three changes at the break and this had a visible impact as they attacked Wrexham from the start of the second half although two of the players, Davies and Griffin, were booked within five minutes of coming on.

Dean Bennett rescued Wrexham eight minutes after the re start when a simple ball forward caught the Wrexham defence out. Steve Basham ran onto the lose ball and lobbed the advanced Ingham but Bennett appeared from nowhere to hack the ball behind for a corner.

Oxford then had a goal ruled out for offside but just when it looked as if the home side were getting on top of Wrexham it was the Red Dragons who scored a crucial second. Good play down the left by Mark Jones won a corner that relieved the pressure and Ferguson’s outswinging cross was perfect for McEvilly who climbed well at the back post to head the ball down back across goal and into the net.

McEvilly almost completed a hat trick when good play from Ferguson and Jones set up the chance for him but his half volley, smashed in from the edge of the area, shaved the cross bar with Turley well beaten.

Oxford then hit the post with twenty minutes left when Roget connected well with a corner from the left that hit the near post. Hackett missed an absolute sitter from about ten yards when he blazed horribly wide, as Oxford failed to make the most of their chances.

Wrexham on the other hand were showing their hosts how it should be done and scored a third with fifteen minutes left, which is a contender for goal of the season. Lee McEvilly received the ball infield from the left and he laid the ball off for Mark Jones. The midfielder then flicked the ball around his man and then went on to unleash an unstoppable shot that bent into the inside of the near post from twenty yards, which drew applause from the home fans as the 400+ Wrexham fans went wild.

As the Oxford fans drifted out of the stadium in the last ten minutes they missed a superb save from Michael Ingham to protect his clean sheet acrobatically tipping Hackett’s header over the bar. From the resulting corner Wrexham twice blocked shots inside of the area to come away with the first away win of the season.

OPPOSITION AND FANS: Oxford offered very little up front and this was surprising considering the makeshift team Wrexham put out. The fans were very quiet in a stadium that lacked any character.

OFFICIALS: Can hardly complain about any of the bookings but Ray Oliver did us a favour in not showing a Crowell a second yellow card early on in the game.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Danny Williams was immense at the back winning every challenge that come his way, be it on the ground or in the air.

IF YOU WERE DENIS SMITH: Delighted with the first away win of the season and a clean sheet at a team that were unbeaten at home, which is outstanding considering the players that we had unavailable. McEvilly again had a good game and looks a different player since coming back from injury.

Match Reaction

Listen to Denis Smith speaking to BBC Radio Wales

Listen to Lee McEvilly speaking to BBC Radio Wales

Denis Smith: "A great result, if a scoreline that might have flattered us a little. The lads are delighted and after some decent away displays, we have finally got the press off our backs by claiming three points on the road. We didn't have a good build up to this game - again - but people responded to the tasks that were asked of them. Dave Bayliss has not played on the right before, while Danny was superb at the back and gave us a presence we need. We have probably seen the 'goal of the season' from Mark Jones, but his strikes don't surprise us anymore. He does them on a regular basis in training! I have also been pushing Mike Williams and he gave an assured display. Indeed, if Lee McEvilly keeps scoring at this rate then Northern Ireland must surely come calling for him. We have had our problems this week, as with the injured and missing, we are eight players down. While some of the youngsters I would like to have used, Matty Done and Gareth Evans were also unavailable." [Source: Wrexham AFC - for more click here]

League 2 Table

Oxford United

Starting XI:

19	Billy Turley
06	Jon Ashton
03	Matthew Robinson
23	Leo Roget
05	Chris Willmott
02	Lee Mansell
04	Barry Quinn 45'
10	Chris Hargreaves
08	Lee Bradbury 45'
18	Eric Sabin 45'
09	Steve Basham

Subs:

01	Christopher Tardif (GK)
07	Chris Hackett 45'
12	Craig Davies 45'
14	Jude Stirling
32	Adam Griffin 45'

Stats:

Wrexham

Starting XI:

01	Michael Ingham
04	Dave Bayliss
08	Danny Williams
25	Mike Williams
15	Lee Roche
16	Matt Crowell
17	Mark Jones
10	Darren Ferguson
12	Dean Bennett
09	Jon Walters
11	Lee McEvilly

Subs:

Stats:

Match Notes

Match Incidents

Other Match Reports

BBC Radio Wales Match Report

BBC: Oxford 0-3 Wrexham

Oxford United FC: United 0 Wrexham 3

Rage Online: Wrexham- Blew 'em apart

TEAMtalk: McEvilly brace destroys oxford

Wales on Sunday: McEvilly is two-goal destroyer

Wrexham AFC: Oxford 0 Wrexham 3

Wrexham MAD: Oxford 0 Wrexham 3

Other Games

League 2 Results:

Grimsby 3 Macclesfield 1 (Friday)
Mansfield 0 Bury 3 (Friday)
Rushden & Diamonds 1 Boston United 0 (Friday)
Bristol Rovers 1 Rochdale 2
Chester 0 Northampton 0
Darlington 1 Wycombe 1
Lincoln City 1 Shrewsbury 1
Notts County 2 Cheltenham 3

Peterborough 1 Leyton Orient 1
Torquay 3 Carlisle 4
Stockport v Barnet (Sunday)

Next Game

Peterborough United (h), Coca Cola League 2

Saturday 19 November 2005, Kick Off @ 15:00