Alex Smith in the action at Vale Park
Pictures courtesy ofSportpixs

Goals -
1-0 Husbands (19)
1-1 McEvilly (63)
2-1 Constantine (65)

For the second time in a month the Reds went out to a higher division side after more than matching them on the pitch and we had the amazing sight of the home team time wasting for the final 25 minutes. Kicking the ball in the stands and picking up bookings for their actions and it was a shame that such tactics ultimately benefited and took them into the second round.

Vale managed to just beat the noon deadline to sign a striker to play in tonight's, bringing in Torquay's Leon Constantine after a motorway dash up the M5. When the teamsheets were passed out it became clear why, as the much sought after Billy Paynter was missing, no doubt a prelude to his imminent departure to the Championship, following in the footstep so his former skipper Sam Collins, who joined Hull City yesterday.

For Wrexham, the changes were rather more obvious as Mark Jones returned to midfield and Simon Spender took over in the back three.

The opening chance of the game went to the home side after just a minute, when Dave Bayliss up ended Constantine 25-yards in front of goal, but Chris Birchall's hurried effort flew high in to the travelling fans in the Hamil Road stand.

In an almost identical position at the other end of the field two minutes later, Ferguson floated over across that Jon Walters headed across the face of the Vale goal, but the one defender back was about to cut it out

There was then a clash of the two Trinidadians as Chris Birchall caught Dennis Lawrence with his studs on four minutes and it earned the Vale man a yellow card. Something for the two to chat about on the long flight out to the Caribbean on Sunday afternoon!

After conceding a needless corner, Fergie slung over a cross that Michael Husbands sliced over his own crossbar, before a second ball in by the Scot was just a little too high for the leaping Lawrence at the back post.

Then, out of nothing, Birchall's long-range shot was blocked by the diving Michael Ingham, but two white shirts descended on the loose ball and crashed a shot against the post, with the rebound clearing well up field.

On 16 minutes, Lee McEvilly hit the outside of Goodlad's right hand post with an overhead kick after a cross in from Ferguson.

Three minutes later Vale fans thought they might have scored when Mickey Bell got around Spender and crossed for Husbands to head on target, but Ingham tipped it over for a corner. The cross from the flag was initially blocked by the big keeper, but he could only push the ball into Michael Husbands' path and he bundled it into the net from close in.

Nathan Lowdnes chested the ball back from the edge of the Wrexham box and low rasping drive by Craig James was well saved by the diving Ingham, conceding another corner, which when delivered saw the Irishman miss his punch but force Constantine to head back up field, and away from danger.

Mark Jones showed that his enforced rest had done him good, when on 33 minutes he took a low pass through the centre, slipped his marker and fired a low shot from the edge of the box that forced Goodlad to save down to his left.

Walters went down in the Vale box when sandwiched between two white shirts; he was slow to get up and had to stay down after taking a kick to his shin, which needed several minutes of treatment before he could return.

The home side finished the half the stronger of the two teams, with Wrexham limited to high crosses and MarkJones shots, without overly worrying keeper Goodlad.

As two minutes of added time were indicated another Ferguson free kick was aimed at Lawrence and the tall defender got on the end of it but couldn't direct his effort on target.

The second half started with a foul on Smith by Birchall and Fergie's cross was met by McEvilly at the back post, but the striker's effort lacked the power to do and damage.

Moments later Vale broke forward and Lowndes was found in space in the right, where he only had Ingham to beat, but his shot was pulled wide of the far post as the striker blazed well wide, much to the despair of the home fans. Then a slip by Smith allowed in Constantine, who did the same as Lowndes by pulling his shot wide of the far post, but this time from a much closer range.

A two-footed challenge by Jones saw him receive a yellow card for a senseless challenge in midfield after 55 minutes.

The Wrexham fans were on their feet a minute later, when Smith's cross from the left was headed down by McEvilly and Ferguson threw himself at the ball inside the six yard box, but was unable to make contact as it bounced across the face of the goalmouth.

A Smith-Ferguson combination on 62 minutes saw former Vale winger Smith curl his shot towards the far post, but Goodlad saw it early and was able to get behind the flight to make the save.

Spender head up the air, Bayliss drove the ball long from his own half, which allowed Lee McEvilly to race clear from the half way line and with only the keeper to beat he slotted his shot home from the just inside the box.

The Wrexham fans celebrated in style at their good luck.

But no sooner had we got back on level terms than our defending frailties were exposed within two minutes, as Vale found space on their right and Lawrence did well to cover back. From the resulting corner, the ball was miss hit by at least four Vale players as the Reds failed to hack it clear and eventually someone was going to get a shot away and it was Leon Constantine who crashed it home from six-yards.

As the play swung to the other end McEvilly got on the end of knock down, firing his first shot on target only for it to be saved and when the rebound came to him on the left, he only found the side netting at the second time of asking.

With 20 minutes remaining Denis Smith introduced Robbie Foy for Spender, signalling a change of information as we switched to 4-3-3.

Amazingly, Vale's response was to pull men back into their own half, as the League 1 side showed they were happy to defend their lead at home to their lower division visitors.

Foy was next up to try his luck and a 25-yard effort whistled only just wide of Goodlad's right hand post, before Walters broke free and although under pressure from a defender he lent back and lifted his effort yards over the crossbar.

The home were frustrated by the tactic, but they also appreciated it might be the route to the next round. This was best demonstrated when Vale were awarded a free kick 30 yards out and only three white shirts went in front of the taker!

Foy picked up the ball on the left and his angled dive was blocked by the keeper but no Wrexham player was able to get close enough to benefit.

Walters was then substituted as Dean Bennett returned to action following

Defender Tony Dinning was then booked for time wasting at a free kick in his own half, before smashing the ball deliberately into the sideline stand.

As three minutes of added time were Constantine raced clear into the Wrexham half, but Ingham made a fine save, although to no avail.

Wrexham deserved a replay, but just ended up with heartache.

Port Vale: Mark Goodlad, Steve Rowland (Andy Porter 81), Tony Dinning, George Pilkington, Mickey Bell, Chris Birchall, Mark Innes, Craig James, Nathan Lowndes, Leon Constantine, Michael Husbands (Jeff Smith 67).
Subs: Jonathon Brain, Joe Cradle, Louis Briscoe.

Wrexham: Michael Ingham, Simon Spender (Robbie Foy 71), Dave Bayliss, Dennis Lawrence, Lee Roche, Alex Smith, Danny Williams, Mark Jones, Darren Ferguson, Jon Walters (Dean Bennett 83), Lee McEvilly.
Subs: Michael Jones, Mike Williams, Matt Crowell.

Referee: Darren Deadman (Cheshunt)
Attendance: 5,046
Away: 1,118

Bookings -
Port Vale: Birchall (4, foul), Constantine (32, time wasting), Dinning (86, time wasting)
Wrexham: Jones (55, foul), McEvilly (88, foul)

STAT ATTACK
9	Shots On Target	5
7	Shots Off Target	5
15	Fouls (Conceded)	10
6	Corners	4
3	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
REFEREE: D Deadman