Wrexham and the FATrophy holders Ebbsfleet United put on a dire display at the Racecourse, which ended in a 0-0 draw and has only added further to Wrexham's fixture congestion with a replay in Kent on Tuesday night.

With a semi final place  at stake Dean Saunders took the decision to make four changes from the side beaten at Burton on Tuesday night. Christian Gyan, Aurelien Collin, Sam Aiston and Wes Baynes were in the starting line up with Neil Taylor, Ashley Westwood, Ryan Flynn and the suspended Marc Williams missing out.

On a bright sunny day in North Wales Wrexham kicked off attacking the ERS end of The Racecourse. The opening period of the game was scrappy with Ebbsfleet showing the physical side of their game. Derek Duncan was booked on 6 minutes for a late challenge on Wes Baynes but there had already been several strong tackles from both sides.

Neither side was able to get a grip on the game with both giving the ball away far too often in the opening ten minutes. On 13 minutes Jeff Louis had a great chance when put clear by Jon Brown, but the big striker hit a low shot which Cronin held easily down to his left.

With both Gyan and Collin making their home debuts the Reds looked a little bit shaky at the back on occasions and Gavin Ward did well on 19 minutes to block a close range effort from Gash. The visitors were pressing Wrexham back and Gash had another effort which ran through harmlessly to Ward on 25 minutes. Stacy Long drilled in a free kick two minutes later which Ward did well to hold under his cross bar but it was Ebbsfleet who were looking the likelier side at this stage.

The match was littered with stoppages with a fussy referee's whistle being heard all too often to the obvious frustration of both Dean Saunders and the Wrexham fans. There was a lengthy delay for treatment to Craig Stone who was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg to be replaced by Mark Ricketts.

The game restarted with Wrexham's first corner and Aurelien Collin's volley went just wide from Wes Baynes delivery. Andrew Crofts was booked on his home debut for a late challenge in the Ebbsfleet area on Barrett as Wrexham tried to exert some pressure on the trophy holders.

In the three added minutes Ward held another Stacy Long free kick under his cross bar before Mr Beck signalled the end of a poor first half of football.

Half Time: Wrexham 0 Ebbsfleet United 0

The start to the second half was delayed due to an injury to one of the officials. Wrexham introduced Nathan Fairhurst for Gyan with Wes Baynes dropping into the right back position.

Ebbsfleet got the half under way but Wrexham made the better start with an early corner and a Nathan Fairhurst drive on 47 minutes which was easily held by Cronin. Wrexham appeared to have changed their shape with the half time substitution to match the visitors 4-3-3 with Aiston and Brown up with Louis and Crofts, Fairhurst and Fleming in a midfield three.

The match was still scrappy with goal scoring opportunities at a premium although Sam Aiston did force Cronin into a save with a right foot shot on 57 minutes. Mr Beck didn't help the flow of the game as his fussy refereeing continued to frustrate fans and players alike and on 65 minutes he saw a tangle between Collin and Gash on the edge of the Wrexham area as a professional foul and to the astonishment of most people in the ground produced a red card for the Wrexham debutant. From the resultant free kick Ward held Duncan's effort. Darran Kempson came on in a quick tactical change replacing Sam Aiston as Wrexham switched to a 4-3-2 formation.

Gavin Ward stood up well on 71 minutes saving from Long as Ebbsfleet pressed the ten men back. Ricky Shakes then mishit an effort from the edge of the area that ran through to the grateful Red's keeper who was captain for the day.

Dean Saunders replaced Louis with Silvio Spann on 74 minutes leaving Wrexham without a recognised striker on the field, the Trinidadian joining Jon Brown up front. Brown almost immediately caused a problem chasing a long ball into the area forcing Crooks to almost head the ball past his own goalkeeper. Jon Brown then did well to turn and fire a shot in on 78 minutes but Cronin held it easily.

Both sides tried to get forward but the quality was still poor with the ball being given away far too often and little idea in the attacking third of the pitch but Ebbsfleet nearly stole it when substitute Judge tried a back heel on the far post from a Ricketts cross deep into the three added minutes.

The game ended goalless and Wrexham now have another game in an already congested fixture list.

Wrexham (4-4-2): Gavin Ward, Christian Gyan (Nathan Fairhurst 46), Aurelien Collin, Mike Williams, Sam Williamson, Wes Baynes, Andy Fleming, Andrew Crofts, Sam Aiston (Darran Kempson 67), Jefferson Louis (Silvio Spann 74), Jon Brown.
Subs: Jamie McCluskey, Patrick Suffo,

Ebbsfleet United (4-3-3): Lance Cronin, Craig Stone (Mark Ricketts 40), Leon Crooks, Darius Charles, Derek Duncan, Stacy Long, Neil Barrett, John Martin, Ricky Shakes (Matthew Judge 86), Guiseppe Sole (Luke Moore 60), Michael Gash.
Subs: Sam Mott, Dean Pooley,

Referee: S.P.Beck (Herts)
Attendance: 3,021
Away: 160

Bookings -
Wrexham: Andrew Crofts (foul)
Ebbsfleet United: Derek Duncan (foul), John Martin (diving)

Sent Off: Aurelien Collin (professional foul)