games 22-32

match reports...

Fortunate

Game 22 – Blackpool (1-1) by Matthew Kelly

Pre-match background: A promising performance at Burnley after the dire result against Swansea in the 'Mickey Mouse Cup’. Optimism was running high for a good result and a good performance; that would be a first this season!

Conditions: Pitch still looking excellent, bit of a damp day though.

Selection: Unchanged team from the Burnley game, so Terry Cooke makes his home debut (a new signing at last).

Tactics: Continued use of the one sided team, when will we discover the idea of two wingers on opposite sides of the pitch to each other?

Ebb and Flow: Lots of Wrexham possession, yet little in the way of attacking football which was effective (no change there then).

Atmospherics: A little noise at the beginning and the usual quietness until the goal and then all hell broke loose.

Goals: The Blackpool goal followed two errors, an abysmal offside trap and Cartwright just rushing out aimlessly like a freight train to be lobbed by Lawson. The Wrexham goal came from the penalty spot after the referee had awarded a penalty for a push on the diminutive Cooke. Nearly a close call as Connolly cocked it up, but he managed to just about put in the rebound. I was quite surprised that with Wrexham's recent attacking form, Connolly didn't try to pass it to somebody first.

Incidents: A few Brammer pot shots at goal and the usual over hit/under hit crosses to our oh so tall strikers.

Post-match verdict: As per usual, just not good enough, there doesn't appear to be any improvement or positive signs in Wrexham's play. Everybody appears (except for Brammer) too scared to shoot from any range. We just keep trying to walk the ball into the back of the net. I am just starting to get bored with it all!

Quote Unquote: ‘I think the confidence is slowly coming back’ (Flynn, Wrexham Mail, 12.11.98)

Outclassed

Game 23 – Fulham (0-2) by Nick Griffiths

Pre-Match background: Following a good performance at Burnley and getting a point at home to Blackpool there was slight optimism that three points might be achievable. No harm in dreaming is there?

Conditions: Pitch looked perfect as usual, weather was OK.

Selection: Wrexham: Cartwright, Brace, Hardy, Brammer, Ridler, Carey, Cooke, Owen, Connolly, Rush, Ward. Subs: Roberts, Chalk, Spink.

Tactics: The usual – three in midfield, one winger and loads of space for Fulham. As usual plenty of pace up front.

Ebb and flow: Lots of nice passing movement, just a shame most of it wasn’t by Wrexham. Although we did try we were never in the game. Great match for the neutral fan, and the game started off with plenty of action, a goal and a missed penalty by Fulham.

Atmospherics: A few songs here and there. A bit of booing and shouts of ‘Flynnie out’ nearing full time.

Goals: The first goal came on 14 minutes through Gus Uhlenbeek, and after that Wrexham made an attempt to start playing football. Both Rush and Owen had good chances saved, but we were soon to be 2-0 down as Fulham’s strikers got in on the act when Lehmann cracked a blistering shot which Cartwright parried, and Peschisolido was there to bang in the rebound. Second half basically consisted of chances for Wrexham that were not taken, and Fulham were quite happy to sit on a two-goal lead.

Incident: Wrexham should have gone in front within the first five minutes when Brammer played a great pass to Cooke who swung it over to the far post but the incoming Connolly just couldn’t get a touch on the ball. Minutes later, Wrexham conceded a penalty when Ridler* "pushed" Peschisolido in the box. Steve Hayward stepped up to take the penalty, and Cartwright made a superb save.

Post-match verdict: Awful. Shows the difference in class, and the difference a bit of cash makes when you look at the likes of John Salako sitting as an unused substitute, he would walk into any other second division team. Wrexham need to get their act together fast, otherwise it could be a gloomy season.

Quote Unquote: ‘It’s tough at the moment’ (Flynn, Wrexham Mail, 12.11.98)

Relief

Game 24 – Peterborough (1-0) by Nathan Davies

Pre-match background: Just a single goal in 505 minutes of open play – six games since we last won a league match, same old tactics and Flynn’s stubborn refusal to drop the ageing and ineffective Rush. Could things get any worse? At least there were rumours circling concerning the recruitment of a new striker: Colin Alcide from rock-bottom Lincoln City. Hands up those who’ve heard of him? Nevertheless, our recent pitiful form had escaped the notice of slim line Barry Fry: "Wrexham are on a par with any other side in the second division"… (Evening Leader, 13/11/98). I can think of at least 20 teams that would disagree.

Conditions: Cold and dull with sinister rain clouds hanging over the Racecourse and theatening to soak us at any second.

Selection: Roberts returned to partner Ian Rush who was hoping to add to his impressive haul of FA Cup goals. Is that a pig I see flying over there?

Tactics: You are joking.

Ebb and Flow: We were at home to an average third division side although Cartwright was the busiest goalkeeper. He produced a spectacular save on the stroke of half-time when he managed to keep out a rasping free kick from Richard Scott. Russell went close on a couple of occasions but it was Peterborough who had the ball in the net only to find the "goal" disallowed for offside. In the second half Mark McGregor hit the inside of the post as frustration and tension descended on our dilapidated "stadium". Surely a replay would be necessary?

Goals: "Flynn Out" chants reverberated around the ground as many supporters filed out towards the welcome warmth of their homes. Then Connolly took us all by surprise and awoke from his usual apathetic slumber to play a perfect pass to Brammer who buried the ball into the bottom corner. 89 minutes had passed and the players managed to release Flynn from impending doom by securing a passage into the second round draw.

Atmosphere: A massive 2,592 mentally deranged football fans decided to brave the cold and swap their hard earned money for the opportunity to watch two pitiful teams battle it out. Subsequently there was an absence of anything that can be termed as an atmosphere. The biggest cheers came when the scoreboard told us Wales were beating South Africa at Wembley and that C*****r were getting hammered at Cardiff.

Post match verdict: Poor old Peterborough did enough to win a replay but Flynn leads a charmed life in the Wrexham hot seat. Whenever we are on a bad run the players manage to grind out a result to deflect attention away from the fact that he can take us no further. A good Cup run is possible after being paired with either York or Enfield at home in the second round. However, sporadic and temporal glory must be sacrificed for improved long term successes. Hopefully, that last gasp clincher by Brammer will be the turning point to our season as the 6-1 thrashing at Crewe was in our promotion season. Somehow I doubt it though.

Quote Unquote: "It was a shocking attendance, but I can understand why our fans are frustrated. Let’s hope we now get a good Cup run to stimulate a bit of business." (Pryce Griffiths, Evening Leader, 16.11.98).

Freezing

Game 25 – Caernarfon (1-0) by Gareth Venn

Pre-match background: Everyone knew that the Robins had to get a result here as qualifying for the next round was in jeopardy with defeats by Barry and Swansea.

Conditions: A freezing night.

Selection: Steve Thomas was given an appearance in midfield, and the forward line consisted of Spink and Russell. Apart from this the line-up remained the same from the previous match. Stephen Roberts was on the bench.

Tactics: Cooke and Brace played a key role in the first half providing plenty of excellent crosses from the right which only needed someone on the end of them. But Wrexham was not able to get anyone in the box to capitalise, as usual when it comes to crosses. Apart from that Wrexham were not very inventive.

Ebb and Flow: A very defensive Caernarfon team meant Wrexham had most of the possession and were constantly going forward, apart from some short

spells. The centre of the midfield managed to string some passes together but the forwards were always lacking, in the second half there were unnoticeable.

Atmospherics: None. The small crowd of 366 was quiet throughout; even the goal received little recognition. The loudest cheer came from the 19 Caernarfon fans when they won a corner! And the biggest laugh came when the Tannoy announced, "The Caernarfon fans will find their coach at the bottom of the Yale car park. Next to the skip!" Not the best but after watching the football the fans needed something to happen.

Goals: Brammer collected the ball from just inside the Caernarfon half and ran into the left side of the box before placing a perfect cross into the back of the box where Thomas headed the ball over the keeper and into the top of the net.

Incident: Russell had a powerful volley well saved after 10 minutes from close range. Cartwright had to make a good save late in the first half. Spink missed a header from just one-yard out after Russell had neatly set him up. The second half saw him doing the same, this time twice in as many minutes at the back post. Apart from these efforts the game was fairly quiet and just saw Wrexham produced some long-range efforts that did not trouble the Caernarfon keeper.

Post-match verdict: A rather poor performance, which saw Wrexham unable to break down Caernarfon's defensive formation. Brace and Cooke looked lively, and it was pleasing to see Cooke changing wings and also moving into the middle to pick up play. At the end of the night the feeling was this was a win desperately needed, or else the Robins faced an embarrassingly early exit from this competition.

Quote Unquote: ‘It’s nice to win two on the trot’ (Fan Brian Davies quoted in Evening Leader, 18.11.98)

Man of the match: Deryn Brace

Tragic

Game 26 – Oldham (2-3) by Jonathan Crewe

Pre-match background: Recent performances no too promising. Fans hoping that Cooke can get us going again.

Conditions: A bit misty and bloody cold.

Selection: As expected

Tactics: Us - usual formation. Seemed keen to get forward. Them - maybe they’d spotted our weakness on crosses. Tried to get the ball into our box as often as possible.

Ebb & flow: After an even opening we dominated the game. Oldham had very little possession.

Atmospherics: Very little noise from locals. Wrexham fans more vocal as they lurched from despair to joy and back again.

Goals: Oldham took the lead against the run of play.

We drew level with a thumping Carey header from a corner before Roberts put us ahead. Oldham got gifted an equaliser and won it with a fabulous volley that nobody could have stopped.

Incident: Plenty of hard tackles and penalty appeals by both sides.

The first 2 Oldham goals were down to Cartwright. First he made a complete mess of a low cross, pushing it out to a striker who couldn’t really believe his luck (or miss) then and allowing a header to go straight through him.

Post-match verdict: Very good performance let down by terrible goalkeeping.

Quote Unquote: ‘What can you say about a crazy five minutes?’ (Flynn, Evening Leader, 23.11.98)

Vital

Game 27 – Barry (1-0) by Paul Lindsay

Pre-match background: Wrexham desperately needed a victory to boost their chances of qualifying for the knock-out stages of the WPC competition.

Conditions: Cold, dry evening.

Selection: Flynn selected the same eleven who lost, but ought to have won, at Oldham.

Tactics: Strong side played as it was a vital to get a result

Ebb and flow: Chances for Barry in the first half – who frustrated Wrexham. The Robins, however, dominated the second-half and Barry caused few problems after Russell’s goal

Atmospherics: Little to speak of from a sub-400 crowd. The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for the scoreboard and tannoy message asking Mr Hugh Janus from Rhosymedne to phone home.

Goals: Russell

Incident: The goal!

Post-match-verdict: Satisfactory performance

Quote Unquote: ‘I hope they can carry it on’, (Fan Matthew Edwards, quoted in Evening Leader, 24.11.98)

Horrible

Game 28 – Notts County (1-0) by Steve Hughes

Pre-match background Over pre-match papers and pints the conversation turned on possibilities: a relegation dog-fight or a promotion play-off push? With Ince to come, Cooke for another month and Rush sure to get off the mark, optimists talked up the latter.

Conditions: Late November sunshine enhanced by the sight of more sky than usual as the Mold Road Stand roof was half removed.

Selection: Some good fortune here as Carey’s suspension coincided with Humes’ return to fitness.

Tactics Food for thought here: Do we play well, boss the game, score twice and lose (Oldham) or play poorly, fare in and out, score once and win (today)? The lack of confidence affected all the basics: ball control, passing, supporting players in possession, being prepared to shoot at goal. Very frustrating afternoon, but three points.

Atmospherics I’ve warned you twice – stop taking the piss! Seriously though we did our best to respond to a less than perfect performance! The officials provoked a lot of noise.

Goals I should have been dealing with a scoreline along the lines of Wrexham 3 Notts County 6 on the basis of genuine chances spurned. However, Rooster is back on the goal trail, and his effort on the quarter hour settled it.

Incident County peppered the advertising hoardings, Marston’s stand and paddock, and the Kop with alleged shots on goal. Match officials wound up the fans, and "We don’t care if he’s got no hair" scored.

Post-match verdict "Holy horseshit Batman, I see three league points scooped up before my very eyes. A veritable victory!"; "Compose yourself Robin, the season is a magnificent marathon, not a superficial sprint, and the Ridler* may yet cause us problems." (To be continued…..) In the meantime let’s hope some F.A. Cup magic will build on this victory and confirm Flynnie’s view that we’ve turned the corner.

Quote Unquote: ‘It was a game of a lot of chances’ (Flynn, Wrexham Mail, 3.12.98)

Disappointing

Game 29 – Swansea (2-2) by Gareth Davies

Pre-match background: Could Wrexham win and confirm their passage into the quarter finals?

Conditions: Cold.

Selection: Spink up front with Connolly with Owen and Thomas brought into midfield. Humes in for Carey at the back. Also, we played with two wingers, well sort of - we had Skinner and Chalk on the flanks.

Tactics: Usual passing and moving.

Ebb and flow: Wrexham were easily the better team in the first half. Swansea were best in the second.

Incident: Spink sent off for what was no more than going into a tackle with his shoulder. One booking would have sufficed. Ref said he grabbed bloke by throat.

Atmospherics: At a WPC game?

Goals: Connolly - good interchange between Owen, Thomas and Spink resulted in Skinner having the ball. Whipped in a cross, Karl beat his man to the ball and hit it right footed on the volley. O.G - Karl did well on the left and got the ball to Chalk. Good cross and the defender put it into his own net under pressure from Skinner. Appleby - Bad punch from Cartwright at a corner, again, and Appleby beat two half hearted challenges inside the box before firing a shot in off the post. Roberts - minute later, Roberts outpaced Humes and Cartwright's positioning went haywire leaving the mother of all far post gaps for the young striker to score into.

Post-match verdict: What happened at half time?

Quote Unquote: ‘I thought we did well after the sending-off’ (Flynn, Evening Leader, 2.12.98)

Man of the match: Skinner and Chalk both played very well first half, and probably deserve the award if only for the stick they always seem to get. No one played too good second half.

Through

Game 30 – York City (2-1) by Ian Pemberton

Pre-match background: Speculation that Steve Morgan of Redrow would be buying the club came to light this week, but so far the rumours have been denied. With the infrastructure of the club well established and the finances looking good this will probably be the first of a number of similar stories. York currently have the worst form in the division so expectations are high that we will progress into the draw with the big guns.

Conditions: Cold, still, and a greasy surface make for ideal playing conditions

Selection: Spink replaces appendicitis casualty Humes and Chalk comes in for the cup-tied Cooke. Surprisingly the FA Cup’s post-war goal scoring record holder Rush does not retain his place after an excellent second-half performance against Notts County. Rooster captains the side in the absence of Carey and Humes.

Tactics: Groundhog Day - too much reliance on the chipped pass into the inside right and right wing positions. But after the sending-off Wrexham worked the ball around superbly and created lots of opportunities for Chalk, McGregor, Brammer and Hardy to get into good crossing positions. Perhaps they overdid this at times and could have tried opening York up through the middle as the team were passing the ball so well.

Ebb and flow: Nearly a goal after 10 seconds from Connolly and then a poor first 30 minutes with York taking the lead. After the sending off it was all Wrexham apart from a good opening spell to the second half by York.

Atmospherics: Very quiet until York scored. This seemed to rouse the Wrexham fans and as the pressure built up on York in the second half the support was better than it had been for a number of weeks.

Goals: A daisycutter from 25 yards went through Ridler’s* legs and seemed to have Cartwright unsighted. He got down too late and the ball crept in at the far right hand post 0-1(25). After a goalmouth scramble the referee awarded a penalty for handball on the line and Tinkler got first use of the showers, Roberts sent Mimms the wrong way with a well taken penalty 1-1(33). Great build up play on the left with Rooster, Connolly and Hardy involved. Hardy sent over a good cross for Roberts to lay into the path of the unmarked Connolly who smashed it high into the net with the York defence appealing for offside 2-1(72).

Incident: In my opinion the punishment that comes with deliberate handball to stop a goal does not fit the crime, it could be argued in these situations the action is instinctive rather than deliberate, after all who would deliberately get sent off and give away a penalty after 30 minutes of any match let alone an FA Cup tie? I would prefer to see the laws changed so that the referee awards a goal and the player that handled gets a yellow card. The second sending off was in the last minute and after a long cross field ball by a York midfielder. Roberts easily made it to the ball ahead of Reed who cynically took out Roberts with a dreadful challenge. Reed had already been yellow carded but the referee reached straight for the red card and Reed was off.

Post-match verdict: Deserved progress into the 3rd round yet again. When an opposition player is sent-off it's usually the kiss of death for Wrexham as they just seem to expect the other side to give up. But this time Wrexham used the extra man intelligently and worked incredibly hard in order to press home the advantage. An anxious 24 hours ahead to see who we draw in the next round.

Players:

Cartwright - had little to do apart from pick the ball out of the net and clear up a couple of dodgy backpasses.

McGregor - spent more time attacking than defending, linked up well with Chalk and Brammer on the right hand side.

Hardy - got forward whenever possible and put in some good crosses.

Brammer - seemed to get better as the game went on and made some intelligent runs into the spaces created by our passing.

Ridler* - coped well with having a new partner in central defence

Spink - acquitted himself well, but lacking in pace.

Chalk - not my favourite player but he seems to bring a good balance to the side whenever he plays. Put in a couple of excellent crosses and created space for Brammer to exploit.

Rooster - worked like a Trojan and linked up well with Hardy on the left.

Connolly - the cup always seems to bring out the best in Karl. Took his goal well.

Roberts - great lay-off to set up the winner and coolly slotted home the penalty

Ward - after a couple of dodgy games seems to have rediscovered his passing.

Owen - came on for the last couple of minutes after Roberts was clattered and ran the clock down in the left hand corner.

Quote Unquote: ‘The game was changed by two decisions against us’ (Alan Little, Yorkshire Post, 7.12.98)

Heartening

Game 31 – Macclesfield (1-0) by Paul Lindsay

Pre-match background: Could Wrexham record their first away victory of the season against a league side and break a four-year AWS jinx?

Conditions: The pitch was very soft and cut up badly during the game after heavy rain in the afternoon.

Selection: Spink continued at centre-half and Chalk was in for Ward.

Tactics: Two wingers – Chalk and Cooke.

Ebb and flow: Early pressure for Macc brought a penalty when Hardy mis-timed a tackle in the box. Wrexham dominant in the second-half.

Atmosphere: Limited due to three-figure crowd.

Goals: Jake Edwards (8 mins): one-on-one with keeper fired in to far corner of net from left-hand edge of box.

Incident: Penalty save from Cartwright early in game.

Post-match verdict: Well deserved Wrexham victory.

Quote Unquote: ‘Jake’s doing well’ (Flynn, Evening Leader, 9.12.98)

Man of the match: Cartwright

(PS: Special mention for Macclesfield’s manic depressive mascot, Roary the Lion, who trudged round the touchline looking like he could do with a big dose of Prozac)

Promising

Game 32 – Wigan Athletic (1-1) by Peter Davies

Pre-match background: A vaguely promising upturn in form.

Conditions: Cold, dark, rainy, unpleasant.

Selection: Owen and Rush are out; Macc hero Jake gets on the bench

Tactics: Lots of neat passing. Wigan’s wingers – especially Lee – gave our full-backs a roasting.

Ebb and flow: Wrexham were all over Wigan in the first-half. The second-half was a bit more even, but everyone knew the Reds wouldn't be able to convert their dominance into goals/victory

Atmospherics: I’d forgot how bad Springfield Park was.

Goals: A luscious Lee lob for Wigan; a BRILLIANT Connolly finish (huge punt upfield, delightful first touch, clinical finish)

Incident: A very open game; both teams had their fair share of chances.

Post-match verdict: A decent result – but we should have won. Are we now on a mini-unbeaten run?