IF you think that local derbies only apply to first team games, then you missed a cracker on Saturday, as Wrexham and Shrewsbury Town literally battled it out at the very impressive Sports Village in Shrewsbury.

This encounter had all the passion and commitment that any senior clash with the Shrews engenders - all witnessed by assistant manager Terry Darracott.

The locals forged in front after only four minutes, when we failed to clear a high ball to back post and then saw an effort fired home from close range.

Not deterred in any way, the Young Dragons hit back with a Matty Hurdman free kick that struck the Town crossbar, just a minute later, and a shot shortly afterwards that the home keeper turned away at full stretch.

Then on six minutes the equaliser duly arrived when Nick Rushton put through a defence splitting pass and Obi Anoruo, despite having his shirt pulled, still managed to slide in his shot.

The home keeper made another fine save on nine minutes, when Rushton rose well to meet a Johnny Hunt cross from the left wing and was denied.

A stray arm connected with the head of centre Leon Clowes after 14 minutes and he was replaced by schoolboy Max Penk shortly afterwards.

The referee was starting to make a rod for his own back by allowing a few 'solid' challenges. Yet he did book Obi and one of the Town centre halves for a shoving contest, but ignored the striker who ran 20-yards to further inflame the situation!

He got his revenge on 19 minutes, when he beat his marker for pace to another Rushton pass through the middle and while the striker's first shot was blocked by the advancing keeper, Obi Anoruo got lucky with the rebound to find the back of the net.

Wrexham full back Jack Jones then had his named taken for a late foul on 28 minutes.

Obi broke away again on 35 minutes, as he raced to the corner of the home box, but just as he was preparing to shot, as last gasp covering tackle denied him the opportunity.

He missed another chance of claiming his hat-trick on 44 minutes, when the keeper stood up to the advancing striker and blocked his shot. The ball rebounded out to Rushton and the youngster did well to pick his spot with a header from 16-yards, but he was denied on the line by a covering defender.

Just five minutes into the second half and we finally claimed our third goal and what a finish it was by winger Marc Head. He cut in from the left flank, got to the corner of the box, switched the ball to his right foot and unleashed an effort that gave the keeper no chance.

Over the next seven minutes another four players were booked in separate incidents, including three from Shrewsbury. This was obviously going to have repercussions and on 81 minutes one of the home midfielders picked up his second yellow of the day - the eighth of the game in total - and was duly sent off.

Yet within 60 seconds, Shrewsbury had reduced the arrears with a neat volleyed finish.

The remaining minutes saw the home side throw their big men forward in search of an equaliser, but we managed to hold on for eighth victory of the season, which keeps us in second place in the division.

Wrexham: Tom Bainbridge, Jack Jones, Johnny Hunt, Declan Walker, Leon Clowes (Max Penk 14), Rob Pearson, George Stewart, Matt Hurdman, Obi Anoruo, Nick Rushton, Mark Head.
Subs: Danny Ward, Danny Murphy, Louis Moss.

As at Monday, 10 November 2008