Wrexham Review

I got the chance to see the Imps for their last game of the season on Saturday, and from the moment I was nearly knocked over by a trio of Batman, Captain America and a large rabbit walking down the high street I knew this was going to be a day to remember!

The team was as expected, with Duffy continuing in goal, Player of the Season Paul Green at right back, Lee Beevers partnering Joint Young Player of the season and Away Player of the Season Danny Hone at centre back and Gary Croft continuing at left back. Louis Dodds started on the right wing, with King on the left and captain Kerr partnering Lee Frecklington in central midfield. The XI was completed by Jamie Forrester and Ben Wright – tied neck-a-neck on 14 goals for the season. The bench was comprised of Adie Moses, Mark Stallard, Dany N’Guessan, Owain Warlow and Shane Clarke.

In the 16 there were 6 players from the clubs youth setup, and 8 who were playing their last game before their contracts expired.

The first half was a largely tame affair, and before Wrexham scored the only real incident of note was Lee Frecklington hobbling off after sustaining what looked like a fairly nasty shoulder injury. Wrexham’s first goal game after a free kick was needlessly given away by Paul Green, and it was a beauty of a free kick whipped in at pace towards the edge of the six yard box and there was nothing Duffy could do. The second was from another set piece – this time after Croft had handballed at least 3 yards inside the area, and the free kick was smashed past one end of the wall, and with Duffy seemingly stood right behind his wall, the ball sailed into the net.

City’s reply soon before half time was comical – a Beevers long ball headed over his keeper under pressure by the Wrexham centre back.

City started the second half brilliantly, Shane Clarke playing like a man possessed, and along with Kerr was running the game from the centre of the park. Two or three corners, and two or three shots and City were back to two goals behind, another free kick sailing past a seemingly misplaced Duffy. Ben Wright then snatched a goal back at the other end, to go ahead in the Golden Boot race, only for Wrexham to run straight back down the other end.

An entertaining game was drawn to a close with two glaring Ben Wright misses, and despite numerous warnings from the PA System, fans streamed onto the pitch at the end to dealy the Imps’ players coming out for a lap of honour.

The game told me very little, except for the performance of two players. It became clear that we cannot under any circumstances retain Ayden Duffy. He looked nervous, very indecisive and even his ‘command’ of the area was awry. However, Scott Kerr is a different matter and he bossed this game from start to finish, playing with the passion he has always had but with a touch of control and elegance too – whenever he got the ball he used it intelligently, and on this performance is the lynchpin to build this team around next season.