By Tim Edwards

WREXHAM surrendered their 16 match unbeaten league run and top spot in the Blue Square Bet Premier with a disappointing defeat against struggling Forest Green.

Matty Taylor's back-heeled goal three minutes into the second half earned the hosts a much-needed win, which was almost snatched away when Wrexham were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time. Dean Keates stepped up but his kick was saved by former Wrexham keeper Sam Russell.

Wrexham, by their exalted standards this season, were dire in the first half and would not have had any complaints had they trailed at the break as the hosts created several decent chances whilst bossing the game for long spells.

They improved marginally after the break and the closest them came was when Adrian Cieslewicz drove a long-range shot against the woodwork before than late drama presented them with a second bite of the cherry.

Mathias Pogba returned to first team action after overcoming a hamstring injury which kept him out of the last four matches including the two FA Cup games against Brighton. Glen Little, who was excellent against Kettering Town on Saturday, made way for the Frenchman.

Wrexham got off to a uncharacteristically poor start at the New Lawn with the hosts playing some neat and tidy football and frustrating Wrexham in midfield. Eddie Oshodi wasted a great chance to head them into an 11th minute lead but directed his chance high over the bar with the goal gaping after Joslain Mayebi flapped at a high ball into the box.

The Dragons huffed and puffed but lacked ideas. Forest Green, however, were full of endeavour and continued to create opportunities. An under-hit back-pass by Jay Harris allowed Jake Thomson to find room but he curled his shot just wide of Mayebi's left post, before Yan Klukowski and James Norwood forced the Cameroon shot stopper into comfortable saves.

Against the run of play, we should have scored after 32 minutes but former Reds keeper Sam Russell produced a wonderful one-handed save to thwart Pogba from six yards after Chris Stokes hesitated.

Russell remained rooted to the spot as Harris's 30 yard free-kick sailed wide and then watched Joe Clarke follow suit with a scuffed effort.

Wrexham failed to heed the warnings of the first half as Rovers finally broke the deadlock in the 48th minute. The visitors didn't to clear their lines from a corner and when Norwood smashed a low drive from 20 yards Taylor showed quick-thinking to divert the ball into the net with a back-heel, Mayebi beaten all ends up.

The Reds rang the changes with Glen Little and Johnny Hunt providing fresh legs. Sandwiched between those substitutions was another wasted Rovers chance, Kieron Forbes smashing a shot straight at Mayebi after creating the space with a burst of space.

Wrexham suffered a blow when Little had to be replaced by Jay Colbeck after suffering what appeared to be a thigh injury.

With barely 15 minutes left Cieslewicz crashed a stunning 20 yard drive against the bar. But as Wrexham committed more men forward they sacrificed space at the back, and Rovers substitute Michael Uwezu almost exploited that but his low drive was tipped around the post by Mayebi.

The keeper then frustrated Klukowski as the hosts continued to ask questions of Wrexham on the break, however Andy Morrell's men almost rescued an unlikely point in stoppage time when the player-manager was brought down under Russell's challenge to win a penalty.

Keates stepped up but, just as last week against Brighton, the skipper's spot-kick was saved along with the follow-up.

Wrexham: Mayebi, Obeng, Ashton, Creighton, Harris, Cieslewicz, Morrell, Keates (cpt), Knight-Percival, Pogba (Little, 56 replaced by Colbeck 72), Clarke (Hunt 68).
Subs: Anoruo, Maxwell.

Referee: Rob Merchant (Staffs)
Attendance: 1,195
Away Fans: 319

Bookings -
Wrexham: Knight-Percival, Obeng


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