A day of destiny for young Morgan

by David Lovett

07/10/02

WHAT drama. What happened in the lengthening shadows at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday would put most matches in the shade. This is what happened...

Wrexham were clinging grimly to a 1-0 lead they'd held since the 26th minute. More of that spectacular goal later. But as time ticked on no one could have imagined the pure theatre that was about to unfold.

Backs-to-the-wall Wrexham had to soak up almost non-stop pressure as Cambridge, in their glinting gold shirts, came forward. You could almost hear Wrexham creaking under the pressure. But no one in this throbbing, little ground had any idea of what was about to unfold.

It all turned in a blurring four minutes when Wrexham lost goalkeeper Andy Dibble and centre-back Dennis Lawrence. Dibbs' had been magnificent. Lawrence, the long-legged giant from Trinidad, had also been outstanding in those Alamo attacks, but both had to quit battle-scarred. Dazed Dibble had blood oozing from a split eyebrow and he was also limping. That meant a second baptism of fire for young Paul Whitfield. He was thrown in at the deep end against Everton in the Worthington Cup and it was sink-or-swim time again.

Four minutes later, with Wrexham still defending desperately, Lawrence was left in a painful heap on the far touchline. He was carried off on a stretcher with suspected damaged knee ligaments. As he was carried past over 400 Wrexham fans they chanted his name and that must have been music to the big man's ears. Lawrence has been in and out of the side this season, but no one can doubt he wants to do well for Wrexham.

So does Craig Morgan, the strapping 17-year-old defender who came on as a replacement. The swarthy lad from Old Colwyn was destined to become villain and hero as this amazing match reached its crescendo.

But before Whitfield and Morgan had time to bed-in, there was more defending to do and only a wonderful tackle by Jim Whitley thwarted Tom Youngs when it seemed he must score. Whitfield and Morgan, however, didn't have long to wait before their ordeals began. A dreadful mistake by Morgan let in the nippy Youngs to make it 1-1 - and then the U's scored again within 60 seconds. Omer Riza raced round the out-rushing Whitfield and the place went bonkers as he gave United a 2-1 lead with barely five minutes left.

But still there was a sting in the tail as we went into four minutes added-on time. Wrexham won a corner on the left and those fans on the far side turned up the volume for what was one last throw of the dice. I doubt whether anyone took much notice of Morgan jogging forward but when Paul Barrett swung in the corner-kick he leapt like a stag to power home a dramatic injury-time equaliser.
Morgan just raised an arm in salute, Wrexham fans went delirious and there were all sorts of celebrations down on the touchline.
There was barely time to restart the game and so ended a truly fantastic finish. It had a cut-price crowd of just over 6,000 on its feet and on their heads.

But also there was so much to savour from earlier on. Dibble made a magnificent one-handed save from Paul Wanless in the seventh minute after Wrexham had made a confident start. Carlos Edwards saw a lot of the ball and used it well. He was involved in the move that ended with Wrexham taking a deserved lead midway through the first-half. Edwards' cross from the right was only partially cleared and Whitley came on to the loose ball and - bang! He hit a 25-yarder left-footed that goalkeeper Shaun Marshall hadn't a snowball's chance in hell of stopping.

Dave Kitson and Youngs were lively up front for the U's but Wrexham were in no real danger and at half-time Whitley's wonder goal still separated the sides.

Hector Sam made way for Lee Trundle for the entire second-half and he soon had a shot parried by Marshall. Dibble made a crucial save from Kitson as the onslaught began and Lawrence's downward header from Edwards' corner was saved by the keeper.

Cambridge, however, kept pouring forward and Dibble again excelled with another super save from Wanless. Wrexham just couldn't get out of their own half for a while and after more head-tennis in their area, Kitson swept another shot just wide. Marshall had to tip over Darren Ferguson's free-kick before those unbelievable closing stages.

Smith and Kevin Russell were having kittens down on the touchline as Cambridge clawed their way back into it. Those two goals in a minute looked to have left Wrexham in ruins following the disappearance of Dibble and Lawrence. But the teenager, with the nine o'clock shadow, picked the perfect time to thunder home an equaliser on his day of destiny.