WREXHAM 1 LINCOLN CITY 0
Mark Currie - Daily Post

Wrexham marked the 200th anniversary of their Racecourse home as a sporting venue with a first win since the second week of the season this afternoon.

The Dragons made heavy weather of their victory against fellow League Two strugglers, Lincoln City, who spend most of the game on the back foot and rarely looked like scoring.

Although both sides - with four straight defeats behind them - were short on confidence, Wrexham took charge and made most of the running in the opening period.

But there were not too many chances until the 18th minute when City defender Nat Brown tripped Marc Williams to concede a penalty. Neil Roberts struck the spot-kick well only to see goalkeeper Alan Marriott turn it past the post.

The lively Williams then flashed a header wide of the visitors' goal and when Steve Evans went up for a corner, the young striker pounced on his header and thumped a first-time effort just over the crossbar.

At the other end, home keeper Anthony Williams was a virtual spectator until the 45th minute when Mark Stallard threatened, but was unable to keep his shot on target.

The Imps striker had a better chance in the 47th minute until he took one touch too many, giving Mark Jones time to block, and Wrexham made the visitors pay by going ahead in the 51st minute.

Richard Hope played the ball forward to Williams, who turned his marker superbly before curling the ball past Marriott from just inside the area.

City's hopes of staging a comeback were hit by the dismissal of Gary Croft in the 61st minute after the defender earned two cautions in the space of three minutes.

But despite continuing to dominate, the home side could not press home their advantage.

WREXHAM EDGE PAST IMPS
Sportinglife.com

Brian Carey's Wrexham marked the 200th birthday of the Racecourse Ground with a much-needed 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Lincoln.

And they just about deserved it after a cagey first period, which the Dragons edged in terms of chances and possession.

Despite Jamie Hand testing home goalkeeper Anthony Williams with a looping effort in the opening five minutes, the Imps offered little in attack.

Alan Marriott was much the busier keeper, saving from Richard Hope before referee Roger East pointed to the spot after Nat Brown tripped Marc Williams after 18 minutes, club captain Neil Roberts seeing his kick saved by Marriott.

But Wrexham continued to press with Williams missing a few half-chances, with a fine Danny Williams tackle on Mark Stallard in the box ending the only attack Lincoln could muster in return.

Stallard should have netted two minutes into the second half following a quick break but Mark Jones cleared off the line, before Williams scored a goal of real quality after 51 minutes.

Receiving the ball from Hope, the striker cut inside and unleashed a curling effort that Marriott could do nothing about.

Lincoln were reduced to 10 men on the hour, as Gary Croft saw red for two cynical challenges on Mike Carvill in the space of three minutes.

And as Marc Williams wasted three chances to make the game safe, Paul Green should have equalised at the death as Lincoln made a real fight of it.