Match Report |
Wrexham throw it away
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS: The first of three consecutive away games
comes against a team three points above the relegation zone and we should be looking for a similar
result off the field after the positive result off it.
CONDITIONS: Damp.
SUM UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE SENTENCE: The team disappeared in
the second half.
TURNING POINT: Andy Holt’s own goal just before half time gave
Macclesfield the confidence to build on for the second half.
MAIN INCIDENTS AND GOALS:
Wrexham started the brighter with Andy Holt’s early free kick blocked in
the penalty area after it was driven past the wall. Levi Mackin looked
lively early on bursting into the area but no Wrexham player was able to
get onto his cut back.
Wrexham
did not have to wait much longer for the opening goal when Derbyshire
played Mark Jones in down the right and he picked out Sam Williams on
the edge of the area. After controlling the ball Sam Williams’ shot took
a deflection off a defender and went above the keeper who had already
committed to the original save by diving low to his left.
Wrexham continued to press and Dennis Lawrence found himself in the
unusual position of right wing back but he delivered a decent ball that
travelled across the face of goal without a Wrexham player being able to
turn it in.
Macclesfield looked decent go forward without ever troubling Ingham,
apart from routine saves. The closest they came was when the lively
Whitaker fired his shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Wrexham built on their advantage with a well taken header from Andy Holt
after 33 minutes. Shaun Pejic picked up the ball on the touch line and
delivered a high looping cross to the centre of the area from where Holt
stormed in unmarked to bury his header past Lee inside of the near post.
With the first half fizzling out with Wrexham in control, they allowed
their hosts back in the game with two minutes left. An inswinging free
kick from the right took a deflection off Dennis Lawrence and went
beyond the near post for a corner after evading the other players inside
of the area.
The corner was a poor one and although Holt was unmarked by a
Macclesfield player he collided with a team mate and could only steer a header
above Whitley and into the top corner of the net.
This was the catalyst Macclesfield required for the second half where
they dominated the Wrexham team from the resumption of play. The first
chance after half time fell to the Silkmen when Swailes rose
unchallenged at the near post to plant a corner over the bar when he
should have at least hit the target.
Derbyshire sprung the offside tarp at the other end of the field but
although he took the ball past Lee he over ran the ball after the keeper
forced him wide and although he fell to the ground, it came as no
surprise that the referee awarded a goal kick.
Macclesfield continued to press as the Wrexham midfield went missing.
Balls were no longer sticking with the inexperienced front two and the
defence were missing headers. Cracks ultimately appeared in the Wrexham
defence with Bullock cutting in unchallenged from the left but his shot
continued to rise over the cross bar until it hit the roof of the stand
behind the goal.
It was no surprise when the equaliser arrived with fifteen minutes left
when McNeil managed to fend off the weak challenge from Lawrence on the
edge of the area and Whittaker made no mistake by firing the loose ball
past Ingham to bring the scores level.
Denis Smith realised the problem with Wrexham dropping deeper and deeper
but reacted too late as Macclesfield took the lead as he was lining up a
triple substitution with eight minutes left.
Wrexham had plenty of opportunities to clear the ball from open play but
when the cross finally came in from the right, Lawrence had to scramble
it behind for a corner. With the substitutes lining up to come on, the
corner was delivered to the edge of the six yard area from where Briscoe
arrived unmarked to power his header past Ingham to complete
Macclesfield’s comeback.
Wrexham still had time left but despite the added quality from Done,
Wrexham only created one chance when Derbyshire laid the ball back for
Lawrence who drove a low shot from twenty five yards that Lee collected
with a dive at his near post. This was Wrexham’s first shot of the
second half and summed up the performance well.
OPPOSITION: Looked to have a lot of quality and will stay clear
from relegation although it would have been interesting to see how they
played in the second half without the own goal on the stroke of half
time.
OFFICIALS: Missed a hand ball in the first half that Macclesfield
failed to capitalise on but there can be no arguments with any of the
bookings. Always looked to keep the game flowing and made allowances for
the slippery conditions.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Shaun Pejic – only Wrexham player who looked
comfortable through out and delivered a superb cross for Wrexham’s second
goal.
IF YOU WERE DENIS SMITH: Introduced Jon Walters with twenty
minutes left as Williams and Derbyshire were spectators for most of the
second half. |
Match Reaction |
Denis Smith: "This is as low as I have felt since
coming to Wrexham - on a footballing front. I will certainly not be good
company over the next few days. This was one of our games in hand, if we
want to push into the play-offs, but any more displays like the second half
and that will become a distant dream. The referee has admitted that he got
the decision wrong over the corner for their first, but it was not as big a
mistake as Andy Holt's in handing them a goal. I'm not having a particular
go at the lad, we all make mistakes, but it gave them a way back into the
match. At 2-0 I thought we were comfortable and Matt Derbyshire could have
made it three when he was through on their keeper. Yet we kept encouraging
them in the second half, as we failed to deal with the lumped ball forward.
Indeed, their fans were booing when the keeper launched the ball forward
with a long kick, but to be fair Whittaker finished well for their
equaliser. We sat deep in the second half and this invited them to come onto
us. With 10 minutes left, I had three subs stripped off ready to come on and
see if we could get back in front - but from a corner we gave up a third!"
[Source:
Wrexham AFC] |
|
Macclesfield Town |
Starting XI:
13 |
Tommy Lee |
04 |
David Moreley |
05 |
Danny Swailes |
06 |
Martin Bullock |
07 |
Paul Harsley
45' |
12 |
Danny Whitaker
|
14 |
Kevin McIntyre
|
18 |
Andrew Teague
|
24 |
Ian Brightwell |
26 |
Alan Navarro |
28 |
Matty McNeil |
Subs:
01 |
Alan fettis (GK) |
09 |
Kevin Townson |
10 |
John Miles |
19 |
Michael Briscoe
45' |
23 |
Andrew Smart |
Stats:
Shots on Goal: |
14 |
Shots on Target: |
6 |
Shots off Target: |
8 |
Possession: |
50% |
Fouls Conceded: |
10 |
Corners: |
10 |
Yellow Cards: |
2 |
Red Cards: |
0 |
|
Match Notes |
Venue |
Moss Rose |
Attendance |
1,616 |
Half Time |
Macclesfield Town 1 Wrexham 2 |
Referee |
G Laws (Tyne & Wear) |
|
|