Football can be a cruel game and tonight at The Racecourse Bury's first goal in 6 games denied nine man Wrexham a victory their brave performance surely deserved. With Chris Llewellyn and Ryan Valentine given straight red cards early in the second half Wrexham battled valiantly to hold on to their lead but were denied three points in the third minute of added time by Glynn Hurst.

With that crucial win at Barnet breaking the long run without a win Wrexham welcomed fellow strugglers Bury to The Racecourse on a cold, dry Friday evening. Manager Brian Carey made three defensive changes from the side that gained those vital three points last Saturday with John Ruddy returning in goal to replace the injured Michael Ingham, Danny Williams failed to recover from his back injury and Gaz Evans came in for him and finally Ryan Valentine at left back for Mike Williams who dropped to the bench. Bury kicked off with the Red Dragons attacking the Tech end of the ground, unusually there were Wrexham fans backing the team from all four sides of the ground as part of the club's "Take Wrexham Higher" initiative.

Wrexham started on the offensive and Lee McEvilly had an early header easily saved by Warrington. Both sides tried to stamp their authority in the early stages with most of the action in the middle third of the pitch. Dave Challinor caused one or two problems with his long throws and from one Bury won the game's first corner which they wasted.

The first quarter of an hour passed with no clear goalscoring opportunities and the action was scrappy as both sides tried to overcome their nerves. Wrexham slowly began to exert some pressure and Llewellyn and Garrett had shots blocked by Bury defenders.

On 22 minutes a quick free kick found Neil Roberts whose back flick found Mark Jones breaking into the area, the Welsh international was denied by a fine block by Dave Challinor.

The game's first shot came on 24 minutes a long range effort from Glynn Hurst straight at John Ruddy, who held it easily. On 26 minutes from a long throw from Challinor, Ruddy came to punch and missed it completely; Hurst's header was cleared off the line by Ryan Valentine with the goalkeeper nowhere to be seen.

Jason Kennedy was booked on 27 minutes for a foul on Shaun Pejic. Wrexham won a free kick in front of the Mold Road stand, taken by Mark Jones, it was headed back across the goal by McEvilly but was bravely cleared by the Bury defence, they broke clear and won a corner of their own. Ryan Valentine scrambled the corner clear.

On 32 minutes a good run down the left wing by Chris Llewellyn, his cross found Mark Jones who flicked the ball on to Lee McEvilly who fired a fierce left foot shot passed Warrington from eight yards out. Bishop responded firing a shot wide of Ruddy's goal as Bury tried to get a quick equaliser. Shaun Pejic did well on 36 minutes conceding a corner under pressure from Bishop as Bury pressed. On 37 minutes a long free kick into the Wrexham area caused Gaz Evans a problem and Hurst fired over on the volley.

Lee McEvilly went close with a superb right foot volley on 40 minutes after a delightful set up by skipper Neil Roberts. There was two minutes added time signalled by the fourth official at the end of the half but no further significant action and Wrexham left the field to a good round of applause from Wrexham's biggest home crowd of the season.

Second Half

No changes to either side at the interval. In the first minute of the half a great turn and cross by Neil Roberts almost put in McEvilly and Mark Jones but the Bury defender reacted quickest and cleared from under his own bar. Both sides started the half with a good tempo and Bury won a corner on 48 minutes. Taken by Tom Kennedy, Ruddy parried it and Pejic volleyed clear. On 49 minutes Bishop fired over from close range, it was good pressure from Gaz Evans that put him off.

On 50 minutes for the second home match in a row Wrexham were reduced to 10 men when Chris Llewellyn was dismissed for a two footed tackle. Mr Mathieson couldn't get his red card out quickly enough and it is the second time this season that the Welsh international has been sent off for a similar offence at The Racecourse.

Wrexham reorganised by pulling Lee McEvilly back into midfield leaving Neil Roberts up front on his own. Ryan Valentine was then sent off for a late and high tackle leaving the home side with only nine players. Mr Mathieson was certainly not the most popular figure at The Racecourse.

Brian Carey brought Mike Williams into the action replacing Mark Jones on 64 minutes whilst Bury brought Tony Bedeau on for the injured Buchanan. Wrexham were now playing a 4-3-1 formation. The crowd really got behind the remaining Wrexham players as the atmosphere crackled.

With 70 minutes on the clock Pugh volleyed over. The Wrexham players responded to the crowd by throwing their bodies into tackles and chasing and closing down the Bury team but every time they cleared the ball it just kept coming back at them.

On 73 minutes Wrexham struggled to clear a corner and Ruddy did well to hold from Bishop after Mike Williams had cleared from under his own bar. Two minutes later Bury top scorer Bishop got clear but lobbed the ball over the bar with Ruddy doing well to close him down.

Understandably Wrexham were showing little desire to attack but it was nerve wracking stuff for the home fans as Bury kept pushing the Red Dragons back with only sporadic break outs by individual Wrexham players. One such break on 82 minutes saw Robbie Garrett run some 60 yards before firing a shot just wide of the goal.

At the other end some of the defending was desperate but brave and McEvilly cleared from near his own line. Noone could accuse these Wrexham players of lacking fight tonight.

Bury brought on Jake Speight for Richard Baker on 84 minutes. Ruddy made a great save from Bishop but the flag as up anyway. Bury kept coming forward but Pugh shot wide on 87 minutes. Paul Scott was booked for a foul on Lee McEvilly.

John Ruddy made a fine diving save as we went into four minutes added time. The atmosphere was electric as Wrexham valiantly battled for a vital three points but from yet another Challinor throw in Bury finally broke the Wrexham hearts when Glynn Hurst fired home from close range in the third minute of added time. The remaning nine Wrexham heroes received a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd as the whistle blew at the end of a dramatic evening.

Wrexham (4-4-2): John Ruddy, Lee Roche, Shaun Pejic, Gareth Evans, Ryan Valentine, Mark Jones(Mike Williams 64), Robbie Garrett, Jeff Whitley, Chris Llewellyn, Neil Roberts, Lee McEvilly
Subs: Michael Jones, Matty Done, Levi Mackin, Mike Carvill

Bury (4-4-2):Andy Warrington, Paul Scott, Dave Challinor, Darren Kempson, Tom Kennedy, Marc Pugh, Jason Kennedy, Richie Baker (Jake Speight 84), David Buchanan (Tony Bedeau 64), Andy Bishop, Glynn Hurst.
Subs: John Fitzgerald, Nicky Wroe, Andrew Parrish,

Referee: Scott Mathieson

Attendance:7,030 (Away: 544)

Sent Off: Wrexham: Chris Llewellyn (foul), Ryan Valentine (foul)