Wrexham recorded their seventh straight defeat at
Llanelli as the Welsh Premier side came from two goals down to progress
through to the Semi Final of the FAW Premier Cup after extra time.
The ninety minutes of football just about summed our season up as we
opened a two goal advantage in the first quarter of the game courtesy of
goals from Chris Llewellyn but a mistake from Mike Williams a minute
later allowed Llanelli back into the game.
But Llanelli never looked like scoring during an uneventful second half
until Steve Evans gave away a needless penalty with 90 seconds left and
was sent off for a professional foul.
Rhys Griffiths doubled his tally for the night from the spot and after
looking like progressing through to the semi-finals with 90 seconds
left, Wrexham were virtually out five minutes into the first period of
extra time after Chris Holloway helped himself to a brace in the space
of a minute.
Llanelli just sat back after that as they had the measure of a Wrexham
side visibly drained in confidence and we hardly threatened Ryan
Harrison after the two early extra time goals.
The earlier rain and wind eased in time for Wrexham to kick off and
Michael Proctor found himself clean through within 15 seconds but a poor
first touch allowed former Wrexham keeper Harrison to smother the ball
at the edge of the area.
Llanelli did start the brighter of the two teams and the closest they
came was when Gavin Ward had to push away a left footed free kick from
Llanelli captain Gary Lloyd.
Phil Bolland was lucky to escape with just a yellow card on his debut
after ten minutes when he allowed Mark Jones to get goal side of him and
Steve Evans had to head clear from within the six yard box from the
resulting free kick.
Llanelli forced three early corners but it was Wrexham who opened the
scoring in the twelfth minute when Chris Llewellyn took advantage of a
short back pass to round Ryan Harrison and make a comfortable finish.
The Wrexham goal rocked Llanelli and Wrexham should have done better
five minutes later when Neil Roberts headed Wed Baines’ deep cross back
across goal but no one was anticipating in the box for the knock down.
Llanelli should have been back on level terms when Rhys Griffiths again
sprung the offside trap but should have tested Gavin Ward as he could
only fire into the side netting of the near post.
Midway through the first half and it was two for Wrexham with strong
play from Levi Mackin dispossessing Andy Legg in midfield and he played
in Llewellyn who got past a weak challenge from Andrew Muntford before
placing the ball past Harrison.
But the comical defending continued at the other end when sloppy play
from Mike Williams allowed Mark Jones to dispossess him and he squared
the ball across the area to give Rhys Griffiths a simple tap in.
The game then entered a quiet spell but Wrexham had a penalty appeal
turned down with six minutes left when Proctor's pass split open the
home defence to play in Llewellyn and his cross was appeared to be
blocked by an arm of Andy Legg.
Wes Baines did recover the ball and his deep cross had to be tipped away
by Harrison with Neil Roberts looking to head home at the back post.
A needless tackle by Neil Taylor ended up with the young wing back
picking up a yellow card and a deep free kick from Lloyd was
unconvincingly tipped away by Ward but the goalkeeper caught the
resulting set play underneath his bar.
The second half started at a leisurely pace with the only incident of
note coming twelve minutes after the restart when Ward was quick off his
line to collect the ball at the feet of Mark Jones.
Chances were few and far between with Llanelli only looking dangerous
from Legg's predictable long throws and Brian Little made his first
change after the hour mark when Mark Jones replaced the invisible
Michael Proctor as Wrexham switched to a three man midfield.
The closest we came so far in the second half was from a Jones corner
delivered to the edge of the area but Taylor dragged his shot well wide
of the target and we got lucky at the other end when a mistake from
Steve Evans was almost punished by Chris Holloway but he could only
steer his shot wide of the far post.
Ryan Valentine did deliver a rare shot on target with a well placed free
kick but Harrison managed to tip the ball over the bar and Llewellyn had
his shot blocked from the resulting corner.
Simon Spender replaced Wed Baines with seven minutes left but Wrexham
were forced to defend a free kick and another corner that was only
partially cleared to substitute Follows who drove in a cross that was
deflected over by one of his own players.
But with Llanelli looking to have ran out of ideas, Wrexham gifted the
home side the equaliser when Steve Evans slipped whilst making his
clearance and could only pull Rhys Griffiths to the ground.
Steve Evans was the last man and was shown the inevitable red card and
Griffiths made no mistake from the spot by smashing the ball in with 90
seconds on the clock.
Ten man Wrexham almost never made it to extra time when we looked
nervous from two corners but we nearly stole it at the death when Neil
Roberts fired over whilst stretching to reach Taylor's left wing cross
after Mackin had headed down.
Pejic replaced Taylor for the start of extra as we switched to a 4-4-1
formation but Llanelli made the extra man count four minutes in when
Rhys Griffiths took his second opportunity to deliver a cross and
Holloway got in front of Bolland to head home from a yard out.
The game was over a minute later when Holloway doubled his tally in as
many minutes when Roberts was beaten to a corner by Mumford and Ward
could only parry for Holloway to make it 4-2.
Wrexham could not muster a reply as the confidence was completely
drained from the travelling side and both teams went through the motions
during the second period of extra time.
The only plus point about tonight is that when we went out to Newport at
the same stage of the competition last season, we won our next game on
our travels at Barnet in the Football League but it will take a much
improved performance to repeat this at Grimsby on the weekend.