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Match Report |
Late Goal proves costly for Wrexham
By: Mark Williams
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS: A goal would be nice after three games
without one
CONDITIONS: Dry night with slight breeze although temperatures
remained comfortable
SUM UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE SENTENCE: Wrexham concede scrappy
late goal after dominating the second half but failed to create any
clear cut chances despite all the possession.
TURNING POINT: No way back for Wrexham after Doncaster scored
with four minutes left.
MAIN INCIDENTS AND GOALS?
In a game where you could count the number of shots on target from both
teams on one hand it was hardly surprising that it took just a single
goal to separate the teams and a sparsely populated Racecourse.
When Doncaster scored with four minutes left it was arguably against the
run of play as Wrexham controlled the second half but despite all their
possession they could only muster shots from outside of the area.
Mark Jones was the most likely player to score for Wrexham having a
better game from the weekend and had Andy Warrington at full stretch
when he curled a shot wide of the near post.
Doncaster tried their best to help Wrexham with a badly placed header
but Warrington scrambled back in time to clear and Danny Williams went
the closest of all when his 18 yard driven shot narrowly cleared the
cross bar with Warrington beaten by the power of the shot.
At the other end of the pitch Doncaster’s best chance came when
Coppinger beat the offside trap and pulled a cross back from the byline
but McIndoe somehow steered his header wide of the near post despite
only being on the edge of the six yard box.
Mark Jones was brought down as he quickly changed direction on the edge
of the area but although his free kick had power it was going well off
target until a Doncaster defender deflected it back into the area but
Rovers managed to scramble the ball clear.
Wrexham’s last chance of the first half came following a well placed
cross from Alex Smith but no Wrexham players were to be scene as the
ball travelled across the penalty area untouched.
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I thought that was our best
performance since the Boston game
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From Rex Ham
Have your say |
Wrexham started the second half positively and at least started to have
shots on goal. Darren Ferguson went close as he collected a knock down
from Walters but he failed to get a clean contact on the ball and in the
end Warrington had a simple save to make diving low to his right to turn
the ball around his near post, although the shot was actually going
wide.
Wrexham lost the services of Shaun Pejic just after the hour mark
following a collision midway in Wrexham’s half and after a long delay
the defender was eventually taken off on a stretcher to be replaced by
Paul Warhurst for his Wrexham debut.
Wrexham continued to press with Walters forcing Warrington into a save
and despite the shot from the edge of the area being scuffed the Rovers
keeper made a meal of it by turning the ball away for a corner. Despite
Wrexham forcing eight corners the absence of Dennis Lawrence limited the
options for Ferguson and Doncaster had no problems clearing the danger.
Wrexham continued to play the ball well around midfield but lacked the
decisive pass as they advanced to the Doncaster area. On too many
occasions they reverted to passes back as the wing backs did not offer
many options and when they did collect the ball the crosses in from
either flank were of a poor standard.
Wrexham’s injury problems increased with ten minutes left as Dean
Bennett limped off to be replaced by Levi Mackin. This forced Paul
Warhurst into the wing back position with Danny Williams dropping back
into defence and Mackin slotting into midfield.
Michael Ingham had to rush of his line and make a challenge at the feet
of Guy but as the game entered the last five minutes of normal time Wrexham
conceded the vital goal although they had at least three chances to clear the
danger before substitute Adam Hughes scored from close range.
OPPOSITION AND FANS? Doncaster were solid at the back but that
does not say much against a Wrexham side that has gone four games
without scoring. A good turn out from their fans for the first round of
the Carling Cup on a Tuesday night.
OFFICIALS? Had a good game with no controversial decisions to
make.
MAN OF THE MATCH? Sponsors went for new signing Robbie Foy but
Shaun Pejic would have been my choice having a solid game up until he
was taken off on a stretcher midway through the second half.
IF YOU WERE DENIS SMITH? It is difficult to be too critical of
the team especially as we finished the game with a midfielder and a wing
back in defence and a 35 year old on the right wing. |
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Match Reaction |
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Denis Smith: "Considering what's gone on tonight, I'm
amazed we actually did so well. I've been asking around to see which one of
the players has run over a black cat!! It started badly in the warm up when
Dennis Lawrence broke down, but then to lose Shaun Pejic with what looks
like a cruciate ligament is a major blow, as he's been a very important
player for us this season. Dean Bennett has also done his groin, so all in
all it's been a tale of woe. I don't think that we deserved to get beat but
we've got to start learning to score. Overall, I felt it was a good
performance against a team from a higher division and the lads deserve
praise for how hard they worked. We had the better of the play but their
goalkeeper made a couple of good saves at crucial times. As the injuries
mounted up, we got more and more stretched at the back and so the gaps
started to open up." [Source:
Wrexham AFC] |
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Match Notes |
| Venue |
Racecourse Ground |
| Attendance |
2,177 |
| Half Time |
Wrexham 0 Doncaster Rovers 0 |
| Referee |
Jonathon Moss (West Yorkshire) |
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Match Incidents |
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86' |
Doncaster score the only
goal of the game after Wrexham waste three opportunities to clear
the ball before substitute Adam Hughes pounces from close range. |
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Other Match Reports |
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BBC: Wrexham 0-1 Doncaster
Doncaster Rovers FC: Wrexham 0 Rovers 1
Wrexham AFC: Wrexham 0 Doncaster 1
Wrexham MAD: Wrexham 0 Doncaster Rovers 1 |
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Coca Cola Cup |
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Round One
Results: Southend
0
Southampton 3 (Monday)
Blackpool 2 Hull 1
Bristol City 2 Barnet 4
Burnley 2 Carlisle 1
Bury 0 Leicester 3
Cheltenham 5 Brentford 0
Crystal Palace 3 Walsall 0
Gillingham 1 Oxford Utd 0
Hartlepool 3 Darlington 1
Ipswich 0 Yeovil 2
Leeds 2 Oldham 0
Leyton Orient 1 Luton 3
Lincoln City 5 Crewe 1
Mansfield 1 Stoke 1 (AET, Pen 3-0)
Millwall 2 Bristol Rovers 0
Milton Keynes Dons 0 Norwich 1 (AET)
Northampton 3 QPR 0
Nottm Forest 2 Macclesfield 3
Plymouth 2 Peterborough 1
Preston 2 Barnsley 2 (AET, Pen 4-5)
Reading 3 Swansea 1 (AET)
Rochdale 0 Bradford 5
Rotherham 3 Port Vale 1
Scunthorpe 2 Tranmere 1
Sheff Utd 1 Boston Utd 0
Shrewsbury 3 Brighton 2 (AET)
Stockport 2 Sheff Wed 4 (AET)
Swindon 1 Wycombe 3
Watford 3 Notts County 1
Wolverhampton 5 Chester 1
Wrexham 0 Doncaster1
Chesterfield v Huddersfield (Wednesday)
Colchester v Cardiff (Wednesday)
Derby v Grimsby (Wednesday)
Rushden & D'monds v Coventry (Wednesday)
Torquay v Bournemouth (Wednesday) |
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Next Game |
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Bury (a),
Coca Cola League 2
Saturday 27
August 2005, Kick Off 15:00 |
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First Round
62'
81'
89'
62'
81'
89'