Western Mail

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.