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Match Report |
Walters double sinks Gulls
By: Mark Williams
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS: Despite being in league 1 last season Torquay
have made a stuttering start to the season and three points should be
the aim, especially as the international break has allowed the injured
players to recover.
CONDITIONS: Dry and mild for this time of the year.
SUM UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE SENTENCE: Wrexham played within
themselves and the two goals in five minutes either side of half time
made it a comfortable victory.
TURNING POINT: Dean Bennett’s goal just before half time made in
2-0 after a quick break when Torquay almost scored from a corner.
MAIN INCIDENTS AND GOALS:
Wrexham made an indifferent start to the game with Torquay forcing the
early chances but a combination of wayward shooting and blocks from the
defenders resulted in the game remaing goalless.
 Wrexham’s first chance came from a poor decision by the officials when a
ball played forward deflected off a Torquay defender who was retreating
from an offside position. With no flag from the linesman Walters
controlled the ball and headed towards goal but his shot lacked any
power and it was a comfortable save for Andy Marriott in front of the
Kop.
Wrexham and Walters did not have to wait much longer for the opening
goal as the deadlock was broken in the seventeenth minute following a
flowing move down the left. Holt was playing in defence as a replacement
for the rested Dennis Lawrence but strangely found himself ahead of Alex
Smith in the left wing back position. A ball was played inside the full
back that Holt took in his stride and after side stepping Woods in the
area he squared the ball across the six yard box for Walters to convert
from close range.
Torquay responded well forcing a corner immediately but after Wrexham
could only partially clear the danger, Sow fired rashly over the bar and
into the top tier of the away stand. Ingham was forced into a save five
minutes later when Kuffour and Hill combined well down the Wrexham right
and when Kuffour unleashed a shot from the edge of the area Ingham made
a comfortable save, tipping the ball over the bar for a corner.
The game then went into a quiet spell as both sides picked up bookings
and the only shot of note came from Walters although his long range
drive was blocked by strike partner Dean Bennett.
As the game headed towards half time Wrexham struck for the second time
in the afternoon, breaking quick from a Torquay corner that Wrexham were
lucky not to concede an equaliser from.
 A scramble following a corner in the Wrexham area resulted in Ingham
making a good save from Kuffour and as Wrexham cleared the danger Mark
Jones made a quick break from midfield. The Welsh under 21 international
advanced to the half way line before delaying his pass to split the
Torquay defence to find Bennett free down the left channel. Bennett had
checked his run to remain onside and accelerated away from the defenders and after
steadying himself in the area he tucked a low left footed shot past
Marriott for a crucial second a minute before half time.
The first goal of the second half was going to be crucial and with
Wrexham scoring again within four minutes of the restart it really was
game over for Torquay. Alex Smith was afforded too much space down the
Wrexham left and this allowed him to measure across into the box. The
ball broke kindly to Walters and his drive was only parried out by
Marriott and Spender timed his run from the right flank well to slam the
ball in from twelve yards.
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The mistake by Mike Ingham has to
be seen to be believed
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From Iggy Pop
Have your say |
Alex Smith then went close with a near post drive that Marriott tipped
behind the post for a corner and a poor back pass put Marriott
needlessly under pressure and the former Wrexham ‘keeper scrambled the
ball clear whilst under pressure from Walters.
Despite Wrexham controlling the game they allowed Torquay a glimmer of
hope following a howler from Mike Ingham. Ingham did well to save at the
feet of Bedeau and whilst the rest of the defenders had retreated to the
half way line he rolled the ball out for him to kick. Unfortunately he
forgot to look behind him and if he had done he would have noticed Bedeau as the striker nipped in front of him to square the ball to Alan
Connell who side footed into the empty net.
Torquay were noticeably boosted by the goal and went close again to
reducing Wrexham’s lead to one goal when Constantine got to the bye line
and flashed in a cross that evaded everybody in the six yard box.
Walters then planted a header straight at Marriott before Wrexham
steadied themselves courtesy of Walters' second goal of the afternoon
from close range with fourteen minutes left. Substitute Lee McEvilly did
well to head back Smith’s deep cross back across goal where Walters was
unmarked inside the six yard box to convert first time from close range.
As the game entered injury time Wrexham conceded another sloppy goal
when a free kick from the right touch line was swung in for Kuffour to
glance in unmarked at the near post.
OPPOSITION AND FANS: Torquay were a very poor side and Wrexham’s
margin of victory could have been more as it appeared the Red Dragons
never got out of first gear for the best part of the game. It looked as
if the fans never celebrated any of the goals although you could not blame
them with their first, as it was so bizarre.
OFFICIALS: There were a few clumsy challenges during the game but
it is difficult to understand why five yellow cards were issued and the one for
Jon Walters were a joke, especially as he was fouled initially.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Hard to argue with the sponsor’s choice of Jon
Walters after two goals although Simon Spender had a good game down the
right flank.
IF YOU WERE DENIS SMITH: What can you say? Two home games and
seven goals, it is hard to criticise these performances although we
could play better and the two goals conceded today were disappointing to
say the least. |
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Match Reaction |
|
Listen to Denis Smith speaking to
BBC Radio Wales
Denis Smith: "If it would have finished 4-0 I would
still have said we could play better but those two goals against did not
please me. I wasn't happy at half-time and I lost my rag at the end which
seems a bit strange to say after a 4-2 victory. We did play well in patches
but we also played poorly in others. It was a strange game and despite being
three goals up I never felt that we were in control. We looked a yard short
but at the end we got three points and continued our good home record. There
were plus points and the two goals that Jon Walters scored were at least tap
ins, something that we have been working on in training. Dean Bennett scored
a good goal but once he got in that situation I was expecting him to finish
as he's got a terrific shot. The wing-backs got more involved and that is
something that we have been asking them to do and Simon celebrated with a
special goal. We scored four today and possibly should have had more but the
defending did worry me. Alright there are excuses - losing two centre-halves
has not helped - but we should still never have conceded in the manner that
we did. I know Michael got a whack to his head but he still shouldn't have
been that dozy. Soccer AM will be showing that one again and again. As for
their second, it was poor marking and someone has got a rocket for not
playing their part. Mind you if we do win 4-2 every week I shouldn't be
complaining!" [Source:
Wrexham AFC]
Leroy Rosenior: "We gifted them three of their goals
and when you do that you have no chance. We were well in the game at only
1-0 down but gave them a goal just before half time, then another straight
after the break. At 3-0 down it was impossible for us. We had chances but
their goalkeeper would either save or the ball would go just wide. We didn't
build on getting back into the game at 3-1. All we did was gift them another
goal." [Source:
Herald Express] |
|
League 2 Table |
|
Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
|
1 |
Grimsby Town |
14 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
21 |
9 |
12 |
27 |
|
2 |
Rochdale |
14 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
28 |
16 |
12 |
26 |
|
3 |
Wycombe Wanderers |
14 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
26 |
15 |
11 |
26 |
|
4 |
Leyton Orient |
14 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
23 |
20 |
3 |
25 |
|
5 |
Chester City |
14 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
28 |
18 |
10 |
24 |
|
6 |
Northampton Town |
14 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
18 |
12 |
6 |
22 |
|
7 |
Oxford United |
14 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
15 |
14 |
1 |
21 |
| 8 |
Cheltenham Town |
14 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
17 |
17 |
0 |
20 |
| 9 |
Carlisle United |
14 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
14 |
16 |
-2 |
20 |
|
10 |
Wrexham |
13 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
19 |
15 |
4 |
19 |
| 11 |
Boston United |
14 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
20 |
21 |
-1 |
19 |
| 12 |
Darlington |
14 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
15 |
14 |
1 |
18 |
| 13 |
Shrewsbury Town |
14 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
15 |
16 |
-1 |
18 |
| 14 |
Notts County |
14 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
12 |
17 |
-5 |
18 |
| 15 |
Peterborough United |
13 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
15 |
12 |
3 |
17 |
| 16 |
Lincoln City |
14 |
3 |
7 |
4 |
15 |
14 |
1 |
16 |
| 17 |
Bury |
14 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
14 |
17 |
-3 |
16 |
| 18 |
Bristol Rovers |
14 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
16 |
22 |
-6 |
16 |
| 19 |
Barnet |
14 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
15 |
18 |
-3 |
15 |
| 20 |
Stockport County |
14 |
1 |
9 |
4 |
18 |
24 |
-6 |
12 |
| 21 |
Rushden and Diamonds |
14 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
21 |
-9 |
12 |
| 22 |
Torquay United |
14 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
23 |
-12 |
12 |
|
23 |
Macclesfield Town |
14 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
13 |
24 |
-11 |
11 |
|
24 |
Mansfield Town |
14 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
20 |
25 |
-5 |
10 |
 |
|
|
Match Notes |
| Venue |
Racecourse Ground |
| Attendance |
4,301 |
| Half Time |
Wrexham 2 Torquay United 0 |
| Referee |
Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire) |
|
|
Match Incidents |
| 17' |
Jon Walters scores from
close range following good work by Andy Holt down the Wrexham left |
| 44' |
Dean Bennett rounds off
a counter attack with a low shot after Ingham saved well from a
Torquay corner. |
| 49' |
Simon Spender drives
home his first goal for Wrexham after Marriott saves Walters' shot
|
| 66' |
Michael Ingham roles the
ball out to kick but Kuffour nips in and sets up Connell for an open
goal. |
| 76' |
Jon Walters converts
after Lee McEvilly heads back across goal |
| 90' |
Kuffour glances home a
free kick for a Torquay consolation |
|
|
26'
73' 
26'
68'
73'
68'