Mark Jones fires in our second goal -
Photographs - Dave Howarth / Sportpixs
Goals -
0-1 M.Jones (36)
0-2 M.Jones (67)
While the scoreline remained goalless, Rushden were giving as good as they got, but as soon as they fell behind you could the confidence draining from a team stuck in the relegation zone. It still took a double from top scorer Mark Jones to secure the points, but once again the lack of goals from other positions will concern the boss, despite another decent performance.
He will though have been happy to see his reshaped defence gain their first cleansheet for longer than any of us care to recall and the reaction of the palyers at the final whistle showed just what this victory meant to everyone.
The comings and goings at Nene Park over the last two weeks meant that when the PA man asked the local supporters to welcome the new Rushden players on display, he named half their team!
Indeed, five of the starting line-up were playing at home for the first time in a Diamonds shirt, while there was another on the bench waiting for his debut.
Wrexham boss Denis Smith joined in by making four changes, with teenager Marc Williams joining his brother Mike in the side, and they had Jim Whitley and Simon Spender for company.
Both teams started with 17-year-old strikers and the pair were involved in the action in the opening exchanges, with Marc Williams firing in for Wrexham following a Ferguson free kick and then Lee Tomlin dispossessed Danny Williams to fire over the Wrexham goal.
The red-shirted Diamonds were certainly keen to get off to a good start and one of their many new signings, ex Millwall defender Ronnie Bull, hit a ferocious drive when the ball sat up nicely for him some 25-yards from goal.
Broughton took advantage of a slip by Pejic on 12 minutes, when trying to deal with a high ball in from Bull. The cross into the middle fell in between Mike Williams, Tomlin and Ingham, but no one touched it and the danger passed.
A change for the home side on 22 minutes as Graham Allen made his way gingerly to the sidelines to be replaced by giant Jamacian defender Magnus Okuonghae.
Then on 30 minutes, Pejic volleyed a horrible back pass from the wing into the penalty box falling straight at the feet Rushden forward Tomlin, who from 12-yards forced Ingham into a fine save when he really should have scored.
Holt's through from the left on 36 minutes was headed away, but only as far Mark Jones who from 30-yards lobbed a measured effort that was destined for the back of the net the moment it left his foot.
A great run by Walters, five minutes before the break, saw him push down the left flank and with no options in the middle he hit a strong shot that keeper Danny Crane was just glad to block and let his defence tidy up before Marc Williams could get into the danger zone.
Jim Whitley nearly got a dream return goal as Spender's quick throw in was played on by Walters to the midfielder, who from the edge of the box fired in a shot that beat the keeper
As the fourth official raised his board for added time, Walters raced away onto Holt's long ball down the left, but his shot was deflected away for a corner by Crane as Williams looked for a tap in.
Then from the corner, Mark Jones' long-range effort struck the back of marc Williams looped high into the air and landed on the roof of the home net with the keeper bemused and thanking his lucky stars.
Mark Jones showed some great skill to juggle the ball and flick over the back line of the Diamonds defence to set up an opening for Marc Williams to fire a rising shot that clipped the crossbar from 10-yards.
The Welshmen were trying to push home their advantage and Whitley's long cross from the right was hanging in the box and although Walters got up to meet it with his head, he was levered away by Castle.
Keeper Crane was then guilty of only patting the ball away when he seemed to have got a good hand to it, allowing Spender to chase after it in the box, but Bull's solid tackle was enough to bring the youngster down and clear the ball.
A Diamonds corner on 53 minutes was directed to Broughton at the back of the box, he got some power behind his effort but Whitley was on hand to head away.
The Dragons got away with another goal line clearance on 61 minutes when from a Rushden corner Ingham only flapped at the cross and when the ball came out to Neil McCafferty he lobbed the stranded keeper, but Whitley was on the line to head clear.
Wrexham stretched their lead on 67 minutes when Walters took a long ball down the left, turning Okuonghae and sprinting away towards goal. Unselfishly he spotted Mark Jones coming through the middle and his pass allowed the U21 international to go on and fire a low shot into the corner of the Rushden net.
This was Jones' 13th goal of the season, and 11th in the league, as he becomes the first Wrexham player to break into double figures for the season.
Jones then just missed out on a hat-trick on 76 minutes, when Fergie's quick free kick from the centre circle, saw the youngster sprint round the home defence and lift his effort over the stranded Crane, but only end up in the roof of the net.
Substitute Tyrone Berry, who had just signed from Crystal Palace, sprung the Wrexham offside trap on 78 minutes, but from a wide position his head high shot was held comfortably by Ingham.
Marc Williams left to a standing ovation from the travelling supporters in the final 10 minutes to be replaced by Dean Bennett.
The match was played out without further incident and the final whistle heralded a welcome three points that pushed us back up the edge of the play-off race.
Rushden: Danny Crane, Phil Gulliver, Graham Allen (Magnus Okuonghae 22), Ashley Nicholls (Tyrone Berry 60), Ronnie Bull, Peter Castle, Dave Savage, Tony Stokes, Neil McCafferty (Marcus Kelly 70), Lee Tomlin, Drewe Broughton.
Subs: Greg Pearson, John Toner.
Wrexham: Michael Ingham, Shaun Pejic, Danny Williams, Mike Williams, Simon Spender, Danny Ferguson, Jim Whitley, Mark Jones, Andy Holt, Marc Williams (Dean Bennett 83), Jon Walters.
Subs: Michael Jones, Dave Bayliss, Alex Smith, Robbie Foy.
Referee: Trevor Parkes (W.Mids)
Attendance: 2,617
Away: 309
Bookings -
Wrexham: Whitley (16, foul)
|
STAT ATTACK | ||
|
7 |
Shots On Target |
8 |
|
7 |
Shots Off Target |
7 |
|
16 |
Fouls (Conceded) |
12 |
|
7 |
Corners |
7 |
|
0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
|
0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
REFEREE: T Parkes | ||
