Wrexham end season with 4-2 win over Lincoln City

By Mark Currie, Daily Post

05 May 2008

WREXHAM manager Brian Little didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after watching his players end their dismal season with a 4-2 victory at Lincoln City on Saturday.

The Dragons were cruising at 2-0 until a calamitous own goal from Steve Evans and, even though they restored their two-goal cushion in the second half, another defensive error made the final few minutes a very tense affair.

Summing up the match, Little said: “We finished on a high note, but what about the goals again? We’ve had to score four to win a match, haven’t we?

“At 2-0 up I felt we’d win the game, but we just give the craziest goals away and when I finish games now I’m shattered because I’m trying to kick every ball for them and I’m trying to help them, especially the younger lads.

“I said to them at the end that I got them two free kicks by appealing to the referee. They are the little things they have to learn to do because the referee heard me shouting ‘foul’ and he gave them.”

But the Dragons boss said his inexperienced side had learned some valuable lessons since being given their chance.

“This group was very naïve today, but the naivety is good because in the last three or four weeks we have thrown them into a situation that not even a seasoned pro wants to handle,” he added.

“They won a great game against Notts County then had to go to a good side Hereford where they got the almighty kick up the backside that showed them what the game is about because they were relegated.

“They have had to stomach that so it was good for them to come here today and win a game of football away from home. In a very short period time they’ve won at home and away and they’ve done it much quicker than some of the so-called first team players did.”

Little is set to announce his retained list tomorrow and some of those involved on Saturday will be shown the door, but he admitted that others had enhanced their prospects.

“I’m pleased for them all,” he said. “They are honest and some of them will be useful to us. Some will go on elsewhere and make careers for themselves so it’s been a great exercise for us in the last few weeks.

“I’d like to say thanks to all the players, even the ones we’ve released. Admittedly they weren’t good enough but none of them are bad people. I wish them well.

“There’s a great lesson here for those young players. It’s about winning and how you do it doesn’t matter. We have two or three people out there who have learned a lot again.

“I look at people like Wes Baynes, who has got so much ability but he needs to learn about the game. Once he does, he’s going to be a good player.

“The same could be said of Neil (Taylor) and we had Carl Tremarco back today who makes such a difference to us as a solid left back. Spends (Simon Spender) did a decent job on the other side as well with Wes protecting him.

“There’s things there we can build on but we still need an influx of new players and the next month or two are going to be very important.”