Marc Williams battles with Hector Sam
Pictures courtesy of Dave Howarth / Sportpixs
Wrexham showed excellent spirit in a second half fight back against divisional leaders Walsall on a cold afternoon at The Racecourse. A stunning Chris Llewellyn strike levelled a goal from ex Wrexham favourite Hector Sam.
Injuries and suspension left Denis Smith needing to make three changes from the side beaten comprehensively at Boston last Saturday. With Steve Evans suspended after his sending off Mike Williams moved to centre back and Ryan Valentine replaced him at left back. Matty Done and Marc Williams came into the side replacing Levi Mackin and Kevin Smith. It was a cold and sunny afternoon at The Racecourse as Walsall kicked off with the Red Dragons defending the Kop end of the ground.
A quiet opening to the match as both sides settled into the action. On four minutes an error by Shaun Pejic let ex Wrexham player Hector Sam break away, Pejic pulled him back on the edge of the box and got a yellow card for his troubles with Wrexham fans concerned in case the card was red.
Kris Taylor beat the wall with the free kick but put the ball just wide with Mike Ingham rooted on his line. Wrexham's first opening came on nine minutes when a good ball by Llewellyn found Done who's shot was mishit and ran through to another ex Wrexham player in goal for Walsall; Clayton Ince.
Marc Williams put an effort wide of the goal on 11 minutes as Wrexham settled into the game. Hector Sam earned a free kick on the edge of the area, which was taken whilst Lee Roche was off the field receiving treatment. Roche disappeared into the dressing room leaving the home side down to 10 men but Wrexham cleared the danger. Shortly after a good run down the right and cross by Bedeau saw Ingham struggle to get to the ball, Wrexham's defence had to scramble the ball clear.
Lee Roche returned to the action, strangely wearing a number 16 shirt, just as Chris Llewellyn broke clear off a Marc Williams flick only to be flagged offside. Roche then did well to block a Craig Pead shot as Bedeau again caused problems down the Wrexham right.Wrexham's first corner came on 20 minutes it was cleared. Neither side was really in control of the game but Walsall looked the stronger of the two in midfield and livelier up front. Great defending by Valentine on 22 minutes conceding a corner after good work by Hector Sam. Wrexham cleared the corner.
On 26 minutes Mike Ingham almost got himself into trouble off a Roche back pass failing to control the ball and having to quickly scramble clear as Butler closed him down. A minute later a corner from Wright was flicked on by Gerrard to Hector Sam who headed home from close range to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Wrexham were not offering much as an attacking force at this stage of the game and the crowd started to show their frustration. Walsall however are an experienced, well organised side with an excellent defensive record and Wrexham were missing most of their experienced strikers. On 34 minutes, however a rare defensive mistake from a Ferguson corner did allow Chris Llewellyn a great chance six-yards out , unfortunately the Dragons top scorer blasted it well over the bar as he fell backwards.
On 40 minutes a Wright corner was flicked on by Roper but it just eluded Sam again hovering around the far post. A minute later Fox became the second player booked for a foul on Josh Johnson. There was one added minute before referee Webster signalled the end of a disappointing first half for Wrexham.
Second Half
Neither manager made a change at the interval as Wrexham kicked off attacking the Kop end. An early long range effort from Valentine went well wide of Ince's goal. A good spell of possession saw Llewellyn earn a corner which Ferguson swung in, Llewellyn 7 yards out missed a great chance heading wide. On 51 minutes a late challenge by Butler on Mike Williams enraged Denis Smith and earned him a yellow card. Five minutes later a late tackle by Ian Roper on Marc Williams earned him a yellow card.
Wrexham were struggling to get any fluency in their game but had certainly started the half in a more positive vein than the first half. The first change in personnel came on 59 minutes with Bradley replacing Bedeau. The game was however very stop start and punctuated with a lot of free kicks.
With 62 minutes gone Lee McEvilly replaced Josh Johnson as Darren Ferguson waited to take a corner. He swung it over left footed but the referee had spotted a foul. Walsall replaced their goalscorer Hector Sam with Tommy Wright and seconds later good work by Llewellyn set up McEvilly whose shot was saved. The pressure stayed on and after a good run by Marc Williams, Chris Llewellyn crashed home an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the top corner of the net with 67 minutes on the clock.
The game was getting niggly and there was a flashpoint with Valentine reacting to a tackle from Pead, several players were involved and after consultation with his assistant Mr Webster booked both players as the card count rose to six.
The introduction of Lee McEvilly certainly had an impact on the game and Wrexham looked more likely to score when they attacked. Chris Llewellyn dropped back into midfield adding his experience and helping Wrexham have more control in this area of the pitch.
With 12 minutes left, a Ferguson corner was powerfully headed goalwards by Shaun Pejic, but blocked by Mark Bradley in front of his goalkeeper. Wrexham were now looking a better side and were putting the league leaders under some pressure. The visitors showed their class on the break however and it needed some good defending by Valentine to clear the danger.
Both sides were looking to get a winner as the game approached the final five minutes and it was at last becoming a good game. A shot by Taylor from long range was held by Ingham.
With three minutes left Walsall won a corner taken by Mark Wright, it found Tommy Wright completely unmarked on the far post but he headed weakly wide to the relief of the Wrexham players and fans. In the final minute Matty Done broke clear and crossed for Marc Williams whose downward header was easily held by Ince.
The fourth official signalled three added minutes and Lee McEvilly could have won it for Wrexham volleying wide from 18 yards. Walsall replaced Pead with Demontagnac to run down the clock and the game ended all square.
Wrexham (4-4-2): Michael Ingham, Lee Roche, Mike Williams, Shaun Pejic, Ryan Valentine, Matty Done , Darren Ferguson, Danny Williams, Josh Johnson (Lee McEvilly 62), Marc Williams, Chris Llewellyn.
Subs: Michael Jones, Matt Crowell, Simon Spender, Gareth Evans.
Walsall (4-4-2): Clayton Ince, Chris Westwood, Ian Roper, Anthony Gerrard, Kris Taylor, Tony Bedeau (Mark Bradley, 59), Craig Pead (Ishmel Demontagnac 90), Daniel Fox, Mark Wright, Martin Butler, Hector Sam (Tommy Wright 66).
Subs: Scott Dann, Bertrand Bossu.
Referee : Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 4,270
Away: 677
Bookings -
Wrexham: Shaun Pejic (foul), Ryan Valentine (retaliation)
Walsall: Daniel Fox (foul), Martin Butler (foul), Ian Roper (foul), Craig Pead (foul)
| STAT ATTACK | ||
| 5 |
Shots On Target |
3 |
| 5 |
Shots Off Target |
4 |
| 12 |
Fouls (Conceded) |
15 |
| 6 |
Corners |
4 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
4 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| REFEREE: C Webster | ||
