Jones turns on style for fired-up Dragons
By Darren Devine, Western Mail
29 December 2004
Mark Jones scored Wrexham's second goal with a stunning first half strike |
WALES U21 international Mark Jones helped
Wrexham to a crucial victory over play-off chasing Chesterfield with a stunning
first-half strike.
Jones was recalled to the Red Dragons' first team after failing even to make the
substitutes bench for Wrexham's 1-1 draw with Bradford City on Boxing Day.
But he more than repaid his manager Denis Smith's faith with a performance
sprinkled with moments of delightful skill and topped off by a show-stopping
goal from 25 yards.
Smith said, "Playing Mark Jones was a gamble, but it was a performance which on
its own was worth the entrance fee.
"It's probably the first time he has produced that kind of performance at
first-team level in terms of his touches and passes."
Before kick-off Jones' name on the team-sheet in place of Levi Mackin, who was
dropped to the bench, was the only change to the Wrexham side that faced City on
Sunday.
In the opening stages Dragons' defender Dennis Lawrence just failed to connect
with a Chris Llewellyn cross and the Welsh striker himself had an effort blocked
for a corner after being put through by Jones.
But the home fans didn't have long to wait before seeing their team take an
early lead as a Steve Roberts header put them in front on 14 minutes after
striker Chris Armstrong sent Andy Holt's cross back across the face of goal.
Four minutes later a last-ditch intervention from Chesterfield midfielder Sammy
Clingan prevented Llewellyn testing goalkeeper Carl Muggleton before the
Welshman saw another effort sail over the crossbar.
Next Jones showed neat skill in midfield to send Armstrong clear down the right,
but the Wrexham No 9 was unable to pick out a red shirt in the opposition box as
his attempted cross was diverted for a corner.
On the half-hour Clingan was sent clear by striker Mark Hudson, but saw his
first effort blocked by Wrexham stopper Andy Dibble and an attempt to capitalise
on the rebound smothered by the Dragons' rearguard.
Another Chesterfield opportunity was spurned by Hudson when he failed to test
Dibble with a half-volley from inside the box after team-mate Steve Blatherwick
had headed down Shane Nicholson's free-kick.
Then out of nothing Jones had the home crowd in raptures when he picked up the
ball on the left side of the Chesterfield area and sent a blistering drive into
the top corner of Muggleton's net on 36 minutes.
But Chesterfield fought their way back into the contest when striker Mark
Stallard stroked the ball beyond Dibble after Hudson provided the layoff from
Nicholson's cross on 44 minutes.
In first-half injury time Clingan found Ian Evatt unmarked at the far post, but
the Chesterfield centre-back saw his header drift just wide of Dibble's
right-hand post.
Seven minutes after the break Stallard forced Dibble to save low to his right
after connecting with Blatherwick's knock down from Mark Allott's long throw.
Next only a superb save from Dibble prevented Stallard equalising and Evatt's
effort on the rebound was also blocked before Armstrong had a header saved on
the line by Muggleton. But it was only a temporary reprieve for the away team as
Llewellyn converted Armstrong's header from a Darren Ferguson corner to restore
the home team's two-goal cushion on the hour mark.
With Wrexham cruising midfielder Alex Smith had a shot deflected wide after
being fed by Jones before the young Welsh star stroked an effort inches wide of
Muggleton's left-hand post.