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By Mark Currie, Daily Post

29 October 2005

WREXHAM striker Lee McEvilly makes his first Racecourse start in three months today with manager Denis Smith urging his summer signing to carry on where he left off in midweek.

The Dragons boss said the former Northern Ireland international had his best game so far in the 1-1 draw at Peterborough United on Tuesday and is expecting him to surprise a few doubters.

"People look at Lee and think he's just a big target man, but that's not the case," said the Dragons' boss. "He had probably his best game for us on Tuesday when he looked very lively.

"He was also looking very sharp in training today and it now seems that he's picked up on the pace of the game at this level. He did quite well in preseason before picking up a niggling injury, which set him back, and we've been asking him to do things which he's not been used to.

"But he's learned the lessons and he is a much better footballer than he's given credit for. He has very good feet for a big man and he can play a bit so I'm hoping we'll continue to see that improvement in his game."

Smith also has high expectations of a big attendance this afternoon as his players go in search of a sixth win from eight home matches.

Despite a bid by Wrexham owner Alex Hamilton to appeal last week's historic court ruling that gave Wrexham ownership of their ground for the first time, he said "Ownership is nine-tenths of the law.

"Given that his request for an appeal costs him nothing and that it upsets a great many people, what would you expect him to do?

"But the fact remains that the future of this football club now looks extremely good because I'm ambitious, our fans are ambitious and hopefully the people who will come in to run the club will be ambitious as well.

"We want to take the club forward and the fans have played a major part in getting us to where we are today. What we want now is for them to take it on from here. It's no good having a club and a stadium if you don't have the supporters.

"I understand there are people out there who for a variety of reasons -cost, illness or infirmity and other commitments - can't come to every game, but they are still interested in the club's fortunes, which demonstrates that Wrexham FC is part of the community.

"It's important that the town has a football team and regardless of other factors, people throughout North Wales regard us as their team.

Wrexham v Darlington

WREXHAM (probable): Ingham; Bayliss, Lawrence, Holt; Spender, Mackin, Ferguson, Williams, Smith; Walters, McEvilly. Subs (from): Jones, Roche, Crowell, Reed, Done, Foy.

DARLINGTON (probable): Russell; Hutchinson, Clarke, Martis, Valentine; Dickman, Peacock, Jameson, Wainwright; Johnson, Sodje. Subs (from): Webster, Bossu, Thomas, Ndumbu-Nsungu, Madison, Kendrick.

REFEREE: Gary Sutton.

BETTING (bet365.com): Wrexham 1/1, Darlington 12/5, Draw 9/4.

First goalscorer: Lee McEvilly 6/1, Clyde Wjnhard 7/1, Darren Ferguson 22/1.

"But in the end, we know we have to be winning games to bring in the fans on a regular basis. Now we've scored seven goals in our last two home games, we've won five out of seven at the Racecourse, so we should all be going into today's game with a smile on our faces."

But despite his upbeat assessment, the Dragons boss saw defender Paul Warhurst limp out of training and out of contention this afternoon with a groin strain, joining Shaun Pejic, Jim Whitley, Dean Bennett and Juan Ugarte in the treatment room.
On-loan Liverpool striker Robbie Foy also faces a fitness test this morning and leading goalscorer Mark Jones is sidelined by a one-match ban.

"Robbie would possibly have taken Mark's place in midfield but we've not had the opportunity to work on anything this morning, so we'll have to wait and see," he added.

"I've got every confidence in Levi Mackin to come in there but I'm fed up to the back teeth with seeing my preparations disrupted by injuries. Nevertheless we'll go into the game in a positive frame of mind and take it from there."

Long-time absentees Lee Roche and Matty Crowell, who both played 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek, have been added to a squad that also includes youngsters Matty Done and Jamie Reed.

Darlington, with ex-Wrexham players Steve Thomas and Neil Wainwright included in their ranks, have won only once on their travels this season, but have drawn four times.

"Given our home record, we are the in-form team and we need to make sure that doesn't change," said Smith.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mike Ingham has been called up for Northern Ireland's friendly against Portugal at Windsor Park on Tuesday, November 15.