BRIAN: INSULT ADDED TO INJURY TIME
Wales On Sunday

BRIAN LITTLE blamed a disastrous spell of first-half injury time for Wrexham's latest survival blow.

Barnet opened the scoring after Michael Proctor gave away a foul - and Ismail Yakubu headed home easily.

The Dragons' boss promised his side will keep fighting until they are told there is no chance of them staying in the division.

After this latest defeat he admitted: "I felt we were cruising until we gave away the free kick with 15 seconds left of the first half.

"We made some silly mistakes in a short space of time and they scored from the set-piece.

"Our team talk went totally out of the window because it was suddenly a case of having to lift everybody, whereas we had been expecting to tell them to push on for the win.

"It was a big moment and I don't think we recovered.

"I still believe we can win two games in a row - which is what we need to do to stay up.

"I'm disappointed we have not won here.

"We have had a chat in the changing room about what we need to do, and the only thing we can do is to go for it.

"We will not go into our shell."

A trip to Mansfield on Tuesday is vital for Wrexham as they aim to close the gap on Notts County, who sit third from bottom.

Little added: "We know that we have to finish above two other sides - and Tuesday is a massive game."


DREWE PUTS WREXHAM BEFORE WEMBLEY
Chris Wathan - Wales On Sunday

DREWE Broughton has insisted this is do-or-die week for Wrexham.

And the striker admits that was the reason why he opted for North Wales over Wembley.

The on-loan target man was told by MK Dons boss Paul Ince he would have played in today's Johnstone Paints Trophy final had he decided not to extend his stay at the Racecourse into a third and final month.

But the 29-year-old gave up on the chance of an appearance at the 90,000-seater stadium because he couldn't turn his back on Wrexham ahead of a make-or-break seven days.

The Red Dragons face fellow strugglers Mansfield on Tuesday before hosting another relegation rival in Macclesfield on Saturday.

And Broughton said: "It's do-or-die time. We all know what's what. No one is stupid enough not to know what the consequences of this week are.

"We have to win the physical and mental battles by making sure we pick ourselves up after some of the bad results recently. We have to win."

It could have been easy for the Welsh-qualified target-man to walk away from Wrexham's worries and head straight into the feel-good factor at the promotion chasing Dons.

But Broughton added: "I went back home after the Dagenham game and there is a huge buzz around the club and the town with the start of the build-up to Wembley.

"I'd played in all the previous rounds and Paul Ince told me I'd be involved if I didn't go back to Wrexham.

"But I feel really strongly for Wrexham and there is no way I was going to turn my back for the sake of one game.

"When you look at the bigger picture, people's livelihoods are at stake and I would never give up fighting for that when we still have a chance."

But Broughton admits that chance could slip away by the end of this week.

And Broughton admits his fellow team-mates must quickly put past disappointments behind them.

He said: "It's been frustrating recently because we've been playing well but made mistakes and got punished.

"We went into last Monday knowing we had to win.

"We battered Dagenham for 90 minutes but we didn't take our chances.

"Drawing that game hurt but we had to put it behind us and get on with it because now isn't the time to start giving up.

"When you work hard and not get the rewards it hits your confidence. But we have to stay strong."


BEES SLAY THE DRAGONS IN UNDERHILL THRILLER
Paul Wreyford - This Is London

It was raining goals again at Underhill this afternoon.

The Bees edged another cracker to take a giant step towards League Two safety.

The goals flew in after the break, with bottom club Wrexham giving as good as they got.

Captain Ismail Yakubu, on his return from injury, got things going just before the interval, with Anthony Thomas and Nicky Nicolau joining him on the scoresheet in a pulsating second half.

Barnet made just one change from the side that lost at Macclesfield on Monday, Yakubu fit again to take his place in the centre of defence.

Joe Devera moved to right-back, with the on-loan Jordan Parkes dropping out.

The Bees almost got off to a cracking start, Anthony Thomas driving forward from the kick off and planting a shot into the midriff of keeper Gavin Ward before ten seconds had elapsed.

Wrexham's first chance came on ten minutes. Michael Proctor beat the offside trap and put the ball across the face of the goal. No one could get a touch, but Matty Done arrived at the far post, only to see Devera throw himself in front of his shot.

Within a minute, the lively Thomas fired wide from distance at the other end.

After a bright opening, the game entered a quiet period, with neither side able to stamp their authority on the proceedings.

A typical Albert Adomah run had promise, but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked.

The game was littered by stoppages and the next genuine chance did not materialise until ten minutes before the interval. However, Done's free-kick from a good position was straight at keeper Lee Harrison.

On 40 minutes, Sagi Burton flicked on a Josh Wright corner. Yakubu was first to the ball and helped it towards goal, but it was hacked away from almost on the line.

Thomas went on another run soon after, though his finish again left a lot to be desired, the ball finishing out of the ground.

The Bees finished the half strongly and Adomah brilliantly set up Thomas again down the right, but the latter's shot was pushed out by Ward.

The goal finally came in first-half stoppage time. Nicky Nicolau floated over a free-kick and Yakubu stole in unmarked to head past the Wrexham keeper from six yards.

It was sloppy defending and undid all of the struggling Dragons' good work in what had been a tight opening 45 minutes.

Barnet started the second half in control and they struck within five minutes. Adomah headed a deep cross into the chest of Thomas and the striker, with his back to goal on the angle of the six-yard box, looped the ball over his own head and keeper Ward for a quality finish.

The hosts were now flying and threatening more goals.

Adomah tested Ward with a low shot, the keeper getting down well to hold it.

But, just as the Bees looked to be cruising towards a third home win on the trot, Drewe Broughton rose at the other end to head a free-kick in off the post on 55 minutes.

The goal came out of the blue, but gave Wrexham the lift they needed.

However, on the hour, Nicolau restored the two-goal cushion, his left-foot shot almost trickling into the far corner past the outstretched hand of Ward.

It was an explosive start to the second half and not over yet.

Midway through the period, Simon Spender restored hope for the Dragons, planting a shot into the corner from just inside the area.

Adam Birchall came close on two occasions when he tried to get on the end of Adomah and Thomas crosses, while Harrison turned over a Done drive as the play switched from end to end.

On 73 minutes, Kenny Gillet slipped Wright through, but he drove against the post. Ward then pulled off a superb save to deny Birchall from the rebound.

Wrexham, desperate for points, were forced to push forward, creating large gaps at the back. It made for an enthralling second half, with both sides attacking at will.

Sub Kieron St Aimie almost scored with his first touch on 87 minutes, his header tipped on to the bar by Ward. He then saw Ward block a shot from his second touch of the game.

The Dragons were still not finished and threw everyone forward in the closing stages, Broughton driving wide of Harrison's post.

It was a tense finale, but the Bees held on.


BRAVERY JUST NOT ENOUGH
Richard Clifford - Wales On Sunday

WREXHAM put up a brave fight - but it will take more than that to keep them in the Football League.

Ismail Yakubu, Anthony Thomas and Nicolas Nicolau found the net for Barnet, and Brian Little's men must now battle back from an eight-point deficit over their last six games of the season.

Drewe Broughton and Simon Spender gave the Dragons hope of salvaging a point in London during a thrilling second half.

But it was not to be, and they must head to Mansfield on Tuesday and grab a win if they are to stand any realistic chance of survival.

The away side slowly worked themselves into the match though, and Broughton was giving Barnet plenty to think about.

But, for all their possession, Little's men just could not fashion any real chances on goal.

In injury time Proctor gave away a clumsy free kick as he brought down Albert Adomah.

Nicolau lumped a long ball into the penalty area and Yakubu was unmarked as he nodded home.

It was a devastating blow for Little's men, and even after the half-time break they struggled to come to terms with the first goal.

On 51 minutes Barnet forward Thomas flicked the ball into Ward's net.

Before the hour mark - and against the run of play - Wrexham forced themselves back into the game. Gareth Evans sent a free kick into the box and Broughton sent a looping header into the net.

The excitement of having the chance of a point seemed to affect the Dragons.

And on 62 minutes Barnet restored their two-goal advantage as Nicolau was given time to pick his spot.

There is certainly spirit in this Wrexham side, and they scored another on 66 minutes when Hall played a nice ball in to Spender, who shot into the corner.

But, as Broughton fired wide late on, Wrexham's survival chances became increasingly unlikely.