Daily Post

Starlets impress but succumb to classy Saints

Mark Currie
By Mark Currie, Daily Post

21/12/05

Michael JonesWREXHAM gave highly-rated Southampton a huge scare before bowing out of the FA Youth Cup in a seven-goal thriller at the Racecourse last night.

The young Dragons, facing a side who have lost only once this season and were 7-1 winners against Crystal Palace in their last outing, were easily worth their 2-0 interval lead, but paid the price for their Herculean efforts late on.

As early as the sixth minute the visitors' defence was breached, but Aaron Braisdell was marginally offside when he netted the rebound after keeper Zach Jones had parried a fierce effort from Alex Darlington.

At the other end Michael Jones raced to the edge of his area to foil Cedric Baseya before Wrexham deservedly went ahead on 13 minutes, Matty Done driving in a low cross that was turned home by Braisdell.

A fine save by Jones from David McGoldrick was complemented by some excellent defensive work by the young Dragons and they were rewarded with a second goal in the 27th minute, Done easing in from the flank to take Braisdell's pass and beat Jones.

It should have been 3-0 six minutes later but Done delayed too long and was crowded out, although the young winger was unlucky not to double his tally in the 44th minute, scraping the post from an accurate Marc Williams pass.

The visitors then won a 45th minute penalty when Chris Marriott handled, but Jones made a brilliant double save, parrying McGoldrick's spot-kick before twisting in the other direction to hold the follow-up.

The Saints gained a foothold in the 56th minute when Josh Dutton-Black pulled one back and they were level four minutes later with a shot from McGoldrick.

Wrexham, tiring rapidly, still made life difficult for their opponents with Braisdell and Marc Williams putting efforts wide before Jones made two more fine stops, denying Dutton-Black at point-blank range and blocking Baseya's effort.

But he was helpless in the 80th minute when the 17-year old Frenchman beat the offside trap and McGoldrick put the result beyond doubt, scoring twice more in the final five minutes to complete his hat-trick.

WREXHAM: M Jones; Barnes, Taylor, Roche, Marriott; P Williams (Backhouse 66), Darlington (Stewart 77), Fleming, Done; Braisdell, M Williams