ON a night when the Dragons really failed to get going, they paid the price in the cruelest of fashions, when bowing out of the Youth Cup to a last minute free kick.

To be fair, the move that lead to the winning goal and the strike itself, was one of the few moments of decent play in a game that failed to produce much in the way of the entertainment for the decent sized crowd on hand.

With extra time looming, midfielder Nathan Southern held off two men on the half way line before embarking on a run that saw him hauled down on the edge of the Wrexham penalty area by Kai Edwards.

After a lengthy delay, which resulted in Omar Mahmoud being booked for dissent as he protested too strongly that it should have been a penalty, up stepped Josh Hancock to whip the deadball over the Wrexham wall and into the top corner of the net.

There had been plenty of endeavour by both sides throughout the 90 minutes, but little in the way of constructive football, as the two teams struggled to get the better of a strong wind that favoured the home side in the first half and Wrexham after the break.

Wrexham were the ones to pay the penalty and Nantwich able to celebrate their passage into the first round proper.

There were few moments of note, although Matty Hurdman did strike the top of the home crossbar with a free kick after just six minutes, but in reality goalkeeper Marcus Cooper was rarely tested.

It was though the same for Tom Bainbridge in the Wrexham goal, with high balls in the swirling wind giving both stoppers more worries than any direct efforts on their goals, although he did have reason to be grateful to substitute Declan Walker for clearing a low shot from inside the six-yard box that seemed to be heading inside the back post.

A disappointing end to what has been an enjoyable campaign in the Youth Cup.

Nantwich Town: Marcus Cooper, Jack McKay, Elliott Ledwards, Josh Hancock ((Josh Brehaut.90), Adam Dawson, Daniel Edge, Nathan Southern, Steve McNicol, Sean Turner (Danny Stubbs 60), Liam Prince, Omar Mahmoud.
Subs: Jamie Baker, Ethan Tizard, Adam Little

Wrexham: Tom Bainbridge, Jack Jones, Max Penk, Josh Marsh (Declan Walker 81), Kai Edwards, Rob Pearson, Matty Hurdman, Aaron Malton (Danny Murphy 88), Obi Anouro, Mark Head (Jordan Kane 75), Nick Rushton.
Subs: Daniel Ward, Jack Deaman.

Referee: R Andrew

Bookings -
Nantwich: Mahmoud (89, dissent)
Wrexham: Jones (70, foul)