Wrexham Evening Leader

Reds Chasing More Glory

13 April 2005

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

Denis Smith

Anyone who thinks they are no good players in the Welsh Premier League is wrong

THREE of Wrexham's LDV Vans Trophy winning side will be absentees tonight at Bangor City.

Holders Wrexham travel to Farrar Road in the semi-finals of the FAW Premier Cup tonight (7pm) hoping to secure a final berth against Swansea City.

Denis Smith, who will still name a full-strength side against their Welsh Premier League opponents, has put Sunday's cup final victory over Southend to the back of his mind as he tries to land Wrexham more silverware.

But fresh injuries - and a reserve team match against Shrewsbury Town - means just the bare 16 players will head down the A55 for Bangor tonight.

Steve Roberts (knee), Chris Llewellyn (toe) and Matty Crowell (thigh) are all missing so Chris Armstrong, Alex Smith and Scott Green come into the squad.

Speaking of the new injuries, joining long-term casualties Andy Dibble, Brian Carey and Jim Whitley on the sidelines, Smith said today: "We have got a few more injuries but just have to get on with it. But it doesn't help having to put two teams together tonight.

"Steve Roberts went to see a specialist yesterday after injuring his knee in the final and we're waiting for an assessment to see how bad it is.

"Matty Crowell took a nasty kick to the thigh and someone stamped on Chris Llewellyn's toe, so they are both out too.

"It looks like the nail will have to be taken off Chris' big toe, but that happens to most professional's during their career.

"That's disappointing to lose Chris because, whatever some people say, he is having a great season.

"Though I'd like him to score more he is in double figures, and his workrate and all round game is special."

Shaun Pejic replaced Roberts after just 14 minutes of Sunday's final and will continue in the back three, but Smith acknowledged he is running short of centre-backs.

Danny Williams, who made his comeback on Sunday as a late substitute after two months with a back problem, comes into contention to replace Crowell.

And Hector Sam, an unused substitute at The Millennium Stadium, is likely to get the nod ahead of Armstrong to lead the attack alongside leading scorer Juan Ugarte.

Dean Bennett and Alex Smith are pushing for places while Simon Spender and Levi Mackin will play for the reserves.

DECENT

Smith, whose main objective is to see Wrexham pick-up enough league points in their remaining six games to stay in League One, knows that Peter Davenport's Bangor will be no pushovers.

But he is in no mood to relinquish the trophy. "I think we are a decent side, I have been saying that all season, but people see where we are in the league don't they - but I can't do anything about that.

"We are holders and want to continue that. Financially it is good with the winners getting £100,000, and it's a trophy.

"And anyone who thinks they are no good players in the Welsh Premier League is wrong. We've even had Bangor player Owain Tudor Jones training with us.

"The standard varies, and teams struggle because of the standard of pitches and facilities, but there is money to be made in this competition to help them improve that."

WREXHAM (from) Foster, Pejic, Morgan, Lawrence, Edwards, Ferguson, Jones, Williams, Holt, Ugarte, Sam, Armstrong, Smith, Bennett, Green, Harrison.