|
Match Report |
Wrexham made one change from the team
that defeated Rochdale on the weekend with Levi Mackin replacing the injured
Jim Whitley and it was the Red Dragons who opened the scoring within 90
seconds after Cheltenham had already hit the post.
 In
a frantic opening couple of minutes Townsend planted his header from a
free kick against the woodwork with Michael Ingham routed to his spot.
Wrexham broke quickly from this with Derbyshire breaking the offside
trap to latch onto the long clearance from Bennett. Derbyshire
capitalised on hesitancy from the full back, advancing into the area and
finished clinically after rounding the keeper.
Cheltenham had not made a bad start to the game and looked dangerous
from high balls down the centre of the defence with Danny Williams and
Lawrence often too hesitant in attacking the first ball.
Wrexham were looking good on the break with Derbyshire’s pace a constant
threat to the home defence. Derbyshire and Sam Williams combined well to
create a chance for Mark Jones but he was off target with a shot from
the edge of the area.
The game calmed down from the frantic opening with Odejayi firing a shot
from the edge of the area wide of the post but Wrexham suffered a blow
when Dennis Lawrence limped off the pitch just after the half hour mark.
Within two minutes Cheltenham were back on level terms, although
substitute Mike Williams was not responsible for the equaliser. A high
ball was delivered in from the Cheltenham right and Wilson got in ahead
of Bennett at the far post. Wilson picked out McCann on the edge of the
area and he gave Ingham no chance with a 18 yard shot into the net.
With Darren Ferguson replacing Mackin at half time, Wrexham started the
second period brightly with Derbyshire’s pace again exposing the
Cheltenham defence. A through ball from Ferguson set him clear and after
Derbyshire knocked the ball past the keeper he went to ground but the
referee waived play on.
Derbyshire was again through on goal after collecting a beautiful
reverse pass from Mark Jones but as Derbyshire attempted to bend the
ball around Higgs but the keeper managed to parry the it away to safety.
Wrexham’s positive start continued with Holt almost played in down the
left by Ferguson but the full back managed to scramble the ball behind
for a corner. Wrexham failed to make the most of this attacking
opportunity and also their positive start to the second half as a
mistake by Ingham gifted the advantage to Cheltenham.
 Wilson
floated in a ball in from the left that hung in the air and as Ingham
came for the ball, the Wrexham keeper spilled it whilst under pressure
from Odejayi and Guinan had the simple task to score from ten yards out.
Cheltenham should have been out of sight when Odejayi timed his run well
to break the offside trap. With the striker clean through on goal he
attempted to bend the ball around Ingham from just inside of the area
but his shot went a couple of yards wide of the post.
This miss proved costly as Derbyshire grabbed his and Wrexham’s second
of the night. A cleaver trough ball from Ferguson sent Derbyshire clear
and with the offside flag this time staying down, Derbyshire coolly lifted the
ball over Higgs and one bounce later it ended up in the back of the
empty net.
The Ferguson and Derbyshire show continued with another good ball from
Ferguson setting the on loan striker free but a covering challenge
blocked the striker’s route to goal with his appeals for a penalty
firmly turned down.
A mistake from Crowell almost proved costly but he was rescued with the
offside flag when Odejayi placed the ball past Ingham but the flag went
up as soon as he received a pass from Finnigan.
Wrexham almost regained the lead but Derbyshire was denied his hat trick
when Higgs saved his shot by diving low to his right hand side but
Wrexham then got lucky at the other end.
Wrexham were again uncomfortable with a ball into the box and Wilson’s
left wing cross was headed onto the post by Guinan with Ingham
routed to his spot and he was grateful to see the ball rebound back into
his arms.
Both teams made substitutions in the last ten minutes but with no
further chances created the entertaining game ended 2-2 after an even
ninety minutes. |
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Match Reaction |
|
Denis Smith: "It was frustrating not to win, but in
the end it was a game that could have gone either way. Both sides showed
they wanted to win and it was more like a cup tie as they chased the thee
points. Matt Derbyshire will the plaudits, but I thought Sam Williams played
well, as it takes the two of them to form a partnership. To come to
Cheltenham and get a point is no disgrace, but I still feel we should have
won." [Source:
Wrexham AFC]
John Ward: "We thought it was an excellent game this
evening. There were two good sides out there playing really good football
and trying to attack. We both believed we could win it, both created some
chances and it was a fantastic game of football and a great advert for lower
league football. The people that were here would have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Denis Smith and myself are a bit old school and we want to see a decent
football match. We have both got decent players that are capable of that and
we have produced it tonight. We want to win these games but at the same time
we are in the entertainment business and tonight we have entertained. We are
disappointed not to have won the game because we have hit the post a couple
of times and we have had other opportunities to put the ball in the back of
the net. We are disappointed with the first goal that we conceded because it
was a pretty obvious offside. Even Denis Smith said to me that the player
was offside. He's a fair guy and he was in a better position than I was and
he said it was offside but unfortunately he didn't have a flag."
[Source:
Cheltenham Town FC] |
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Other Match Reports |
|
BBC: Cheltenham 2-2 Wrexham
Cheltenham Town FC: Honours even at Whaddon Road
TEAMtalk: Dragons held by robins
Wrexham AFC: Cheltenham 2 Wrexham 2 |
|
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Match Notes |
| Venue |
Whaddon Road |
| Attendance |
2,737 |
| Half Time |
Cheltenham 1 Wrexham 1 |
| Referee |
Trevor Parkes (West Midlands) |
|
|
League 2 Results |
|
Bury 1 Oxford United 1
Cheltenham 2 Wrexham 2
Rochdale 2 Grimsby 2
Boston United v Northampton (Wednesday) |
|
League 2 Table |
|
Pos |
Team |
Pld |
GD
|
Pts |
| 1 |
Carlisle |
37 |
36 |
68 |
| 2 |
Grimsby |
38 |
23 |
68 |
| 3 |
Wycombe |
38 |
21 |
65 |
| 4 |
Leyton Orient |
38 |
10 |
63 |
| 5 |
Northampton |
37 |
16 |
60 |
| 6 |
Cheltenham |
38 |
5 |
58 |
| 7 |
Peterborough |
38 |
12 |
56 |
| 8 |
Lincoln City |
37 |
6 |
53 |
| 9 |
Wrexham |
37 |
11 |
51 |
| 10 |
Bristol Rovers |
38 |
-9 |
50 |
| 11 |
Darlington |
37 |
3 |
49 |
| 12 |
Mansfield |
38 |
1 |
48 |
| 13 |
Shrewsbury |
38 |
-2 |
48 |
| 14 |
Boston United |
36 |
-6 |
48 |
| 15 |
Notts County |
38 |
-9 |
48 |
| 16 |
Rochdale |
36 |
-1 |
45 |
| 17 |
Stockport |
38 |
-17 |
43 |
| 18 |
Macclesfield |
37 |
-11 |
42 |
| 19 |
Oxford United |
38 |
-11 |
42 |
| 20 |
Bury |
37 |
-13 |
39 |
| 21 |
Barnet |
37 |
-14 |
39 |
| 22 |
Torquay |
38 |
-18 |
39 |
| 23 |
Rushden & Diamonds |
38 |
-24 |
38 |
| 24 |
Chester |
36 |
-9 |
37 |
|
|
Next Game |
|
Chester
City (h),
Coca Cola League 2
Sunday 26
March 2006, Kick Off @ 12:00
This game is all ticket |
|
88'
81'
81'
88'
87'
87'