WREXHAM kept their second consecutive clean sheet against a Championship side as they held Blackpool to a goalless draw at The Racecourse in a pre season friendly.
With both managers naming large squads for Wrexham's second home friendly of the season it was an opportunity for the supporters to assess their respective clubs progress in the build up to the new season. Blackpool had a trialist in their starting line up whilst Wrexham's latest signing Darren Kempson started the game for the Red Dragons.
On a day in which the weather alternated from torrential rain to bright sunshine Blackpool kicked off attacking the Kop end of The Racecourse and made a bright start pushing the Reds back in the opening minutes of the game. Wrexham slowly played their way back into the game as both sides sparred for an opening with the home side playing against a strong breeze.
With eight minutes gone Wes Baynes had the game's first serious chance, heading wide from 10 yards after a good turn and cross by Marc Williams. A minute later a good shot by Stuart Green was tipped over the bar by Anthony Williams at the expense of a corner.
The game had livened up and Jefferson Louis had the Wrexham fans on their feet with a good run on 13 minutes but unfortunately the ball got stuck in his feet and Blackpool cleared. The players were looking a lot fitter than last week and the tackling was more in line with a competitive game than it had been against Wolves in the previous game.
Blackpool went close on 18 minutes, when Stuart Green screwed his shot wide after a good build up involving Ben Burgess. A minute later Anthony Williams clutched a long range effort from McPhee to his chest as the visitors pushed for the opening goal. Steve Kabba then put an effort wide from eight yards after some good play by Stuart Green.
At this stage Wrexham were hanging on at the back as both McPhee and Green were causing problems down the flanks.
The Red Dragons, playing once again in light blue, were working hard to close down their Championship opponents and Wes Baynes won a free kick on 27 minutes on the edge of the area.
With the Wrexham fans hoping for a repeat of last week's effort Baynes unfortunately drove his free kick into the Blackpool wall and it was cleared. On the half hour mark Tom Kearney swung in a superb cross which just eluded Marc Williams but found Sam Aiston sliding in on the far post, but at full stretch the winger blasted over the bar from close range.
Wes Baynes fired in a good effort with 32 minutes on the clock, it took a slight deflection and Rachubka gathered at the second attempt.
Wrexham were certainly getting on top territorially at this stage of the half and Jefferson Louis's effort was deflected to Marc Williams who was closed down well by Barker as he looked to get in a shot on target. Louis was winning some good headers up front for Wrexham and once again Tom Kearney was looking assured in the centre of midfield.
On 36 minutes Louis put Aiston away down the left and made a good run into the area to get onto the end of the wingers cross, embarrassingly he completely missed his kick from a tight angle and the chance was lost. This seemed to spark a scrappy spell in the action with both sides misplacing passes and giving the ball away as the first half petered out.
Jefferson Louis in action
Second Half
Despite wholesale changes for Wrexham at half time, only Aiston and Marc Williams staying on, they started the half well and Proctor glanced a header wide on 48 minutes. Blackpool should have taken the lead on 54 minutes, when Green put McPhee clear but from 20 yards he fired over the bar with only Ward to beat.
The half was a little disjointed at this stage but a good build up by Wrexham on 56 minutes saw Michael Proctor set himself up well, but got his body shape wrong and put his effort well wide.
McPhee did well on 58 minutes with a run down the left, his cross found Burgess who set up Green to shoot and Ward saved well to his left. Marc Williams missed a great chance a minute later firing well wide after good work by Aiston. The game came to life again with a Green free kick finding Burgess in the area, the strikers header was straight at Ward though.
Neither side was on top in a scrappy first quarter of an hour of the second half with the quality of the passing poor from both teams, but as we passed the hour mark a good move between Fleming and Spann released the Trinidad international down the right wing and his near post cross was flicked just wide by Michael Proctor. Fox had a good shot on target from 20 yards on 67 minutes, but Ward diving to his left held on at the second attempt.
A good advantage by the referee on 69 minutes, Marc Williams was fouled on half way but Mr Cummins allowed Andy Fleming to play on and set up Spann for a long range shot which Gilkes tipped over for a corner. Wrexham broke well from a Blackpool corner and Andy Fleming won a corner for the home side which Silvio Spann took and Blackpool defended well.
Steve Kabba almost broke the deadlock a minute after a double Blackpool substitution but Gavin Ward did well to block his effort with 12 minutes left. In truth the second half was not of great quality but Wrexham did win another corner on 80 minutes, Spann's effort was cleared easily.
Marc Williams won another corner two minutes later when his shot was deflected; again Blackpool cleared Spann's effort. Wrexham were pressing now and Shaun Barker did well to head clear a near post cross.
Despite all their pressure Wrexham had not really tested either of the visitor's goalkeepers in either half and the game ended in a goalless draw.
Wrexham (4-4-2): Anthony Williams (Gavin Ward 45), Simon Spender (Kyle Critchell 45) , Nat Brown (Shaun Pejic 45), Darren Kempson (Steve Evans 45), Carl Tremarco (Mike Williams 45), Wes Baynes (Silvio Spann 45), Tom Kearney (Gareth Evans 45), Levi Mackin (Andy Fleming 45) , Sam Aiston (Chris Marriott 78), Jefferson Louis (Michael Proctor 45), Marc Williams.
Subs: Chris Maxwell.
Blackpool (4-4-2): Paul Rachubka (Matt Gilkes 45), Trialist (David Fox 45), Alex John-Baptiste, Shaun Barker, Marlon Broomes, Jermaine Wright, Keith Southern, Stephen McPhee, Stuart Green (Dominic Morell 77), Steve Kabba, Ben Burgess (Michael D'agostino 77).
Subs: Ashton Bayliss, Ross Lloyd.
Referee: Steve Cummins
Attendance: 1,515
Away: 133
