PREVIEW | Wrexham v Dagenham & Redbridge

Can Wrexham bounce back against the table topper

17 September 2021

Wrexham suffered their first defeat of the season on Tuesday, losing 3-1 at Grimsby. They could ask for a tougher game to follow up that loss than a visit from top-of-the-table Dagenham & Redbridge.

Phil Parkinson will hope Jordan Davies is fit again after picking up an injury last Saturday while his midfield options will definitely be bolstered by the return of David Jones from suspension.

The Daggers have started the season in spectacular form, winning 5 and drawing 1 so far. They were handed a terrifically difficult start to the season, facing two of the pre-season play-off favourites, and came through superbly. An opening day 3-1 win at Stockport was followed up with a 4-2 beating of Bromley.

Since then, they have had an easier path on paper, and have shown that, apart from goal power, they have spirit. They maintained their grip on the top of the table on Tuesday by coming from behind twice to beat Weymouth, and grabbed a point against Wealdstone with a late goal.

Dagenham & Redbridge's fine start to the campaign should come as no surprise, as they finished last season in terrific form, winning 7 of their last 10 games with just one loss. It was a tough run-in too, featuring a number of play-off contenders, but they beat Halifax, Eastleigh and Solihull Moors, drew at Stockport and, of course, managed the 1-1 draw on the final day which denied us a place in the post-season matches. Their only loss in that sequence of results was a 2-1 defeat at Chesterfield through an 86th minute penalty, after they'd had a man sent off.

There's no question The Daggers are the in-form side of the division then, with their last 16 ganes yielding 12 wins and 39 points. This should be a fascinating clash at a packed Racecourse.

HEAD TO HEAD
Dagenham have tended to enjoy their visits to The Racecourse, and they will have found last season’s clash particularly memorable.

Wrexham were in control for much of the game, and it was no surprise when Reece Hall-Johnson added to Jamie Reckord‘s opener to put us 2-0 up after an hour.

However, Dagenham hit back with real spirit, aided by a couple of astute substitutions, and earned a 2-2 draw through a 95th minute equaliser.

That late equaliser means we’ve still only beaten Dagenham once at home in 6 attempts. That win came in February 2019, in Bryan Hughes’ first game as Wrexham manager. Stuart Beavon’s 74th minute strike separated the sides a quarter of an hour after he’d come off the bench to replace Cole Stockton.

The first time The Daggers came to The Racecourse was in the season we were relegated from the Football League. With ten games of the season left, we were in a desperate situation, but a recent mini-revival had given us a faint hope that we might be able to kick on if we beat the Football League newcomers.

However, despite being on top of the game, we couldn’t get through the visitors’ stubborn defence, and the game ended in a goalless draw. Four points from our next seven games sealed our fate.

The next time they came to The Racecourse was in April 2017, when they emerged 1-0 winners. It wasn’t until the following season that we actually scored at home to Dagenham, but Paul Rutherford’s opener wasn’t a sign of a change of fortunes as we lost 2-1.

LAST MEETING
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 (Kelleher (o.g.) 51) Wrexham 1 (Ponticelli 90)
DAGENHAM: E Justham, C Reynolds, W Wright, K Clark, Mo Sagaf, S Khan, M Robinson, M Weston (G Saunders, 78), A Balanta (S Wilson, 89), P McCallum (D McQueen, 86), L Gordon Subs not used: A Eleftheriou, T Smith

WREXHAM: R Lainton, F Kelleher (D Jarvis, 61), T Vassell, R Hall-Johnson, C Green, S Pearson, J Davies, L Young, J Horsfield (P Rutherford, 46), J Ponticelli, G Omotayo (D Angus, 61) Subs not used: C Dibble, T French

Attendance: 1278

Yellow cards:
Dagenham – McCallum
Wrexham – Pearson, Davies

Red cards:
Dagenham – None
Wrexham – Paul Rutherford, 56

POTENTIAL MILESTONES
Jake Hyde makes his 375^th league apperance

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT | Wrexham 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge

18 September 2021

Wrexham beat former table toppers Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0, as Paul Mullin sparks more magic into the Hollywood dream with a goal full of class.

Wrexham started the game with a ferocious intensity, and this was capped off by Mullin’s touch of class from the edge of the 18-yard box. The talisman was by no-means central on the pitch, as he hooked the ball onto his left foot and sent the ball like an arrow into Justham’s top corner, as he stood rooted to the spot in the eighth minute.

Dagenham didn’t give up on this game without a fight, and they had a fair amount of good chances to level the scoring. Paul McCallum missed a buck-load of chances for the Daggers and last-ditch heroics secured all three points for Wrexham.

Injuries and a tough run of fixtures have led to Phil Parkinson making three changes to the side that lost the blockbuster game to Grimsby Town on Tuesday night. Jordan Ponticelli makes his first start of the season, as Jake Hyde is side-lined due to injury. Behind him starts Liam McAlinden, after an impressive display off the bench on Tuesday night. Harry Lennon also returns to the side, seeing youngster Max Cleworth drop to the bench.

Dagenham and Redbridge have had an impressive start to the season, seeing them top the table after matchday 6, with five wins and a draw. Josh Walker is in fine form this season, already bagging four goals for the Daggers and captain Will Wright will be a threat for Wrexham at set-pieces too, after securing a brace in a 4-2 win on Tuesday night against Weymouth.

The first stages of the game were negotiated well by Wrexham, as the Reds began to knock on the door. It’s often said that a piece of magic is needed to win these tough games and “super” Paul Mullin was on hand to deliver just that. He found some room on the edge of the Dagenham box and looped a speculative effort into the top corner, leaving Elliot Justham rooted to the spot bewildered, as Wrexham took the lead with eight minutes on the clock.

With the WrexRent Stand bouncing, Wrexham were truly on top against the league leaders. Constant pressure from corners finally amounted to a chance, as the ball somehow found its way onto the boot of Harry Lennon at the back-post. Its safe to say it wasn’t a striker’s finish, as the ball was smashed into the glowing banner of the Kop 14 minutes in.

A misplaced pass from McAlinden wouldn’t stop him from striding and sliding in to win the ball back. After a well-timed challenge, he was able to slot Mullin in with a through ball, allowing our talisman to cause another headache for the Dagenham back-line. Mullin shifted the ball onto his left-foot and popped an effort with some power, which sailed over the bar, but the warning signs were as clear as day for the Daggers, with 30 minutes on the clock.

Half time was called after a dominant display from Wrexham. They were able to shift through the gears as they pleased and claimed the early goal through the magician that is Paul Mullin.

The Daggers finally created their first chance in the 48^th minute of the game, as Walker put Ben Tozer under heaps of pressure to win the ball in the Wrexham box. The number seven managed to fizz a ball to the back-post, where it was met by striker Paul McCallum, who couldn’t muster up a clean connection on the ball, as it bumbled out for a goal-kick.

Dagenham had certainly woken up, as winger Myles Weston was played in-behind Tyler French with acres of times and space. The number eleven picked his head up and pulled back the ball for the onrushing Matt Robinson. The midfielder should have buried the ball into the net, with 50 minutes goal, but the red mist descended, and the ball smashed into the Kop.

The Daggers’ early start to the second half seemed to lull out, but a chance arose for them in the 70^th minute, as they ball was held up to the back-post. Hearts were in mouths as the ball was destined for the head of McCallum and the prophecy came true, as he nodded the ball forward towards goal from a few yards out. However, Rob Lainton had managed to scamper across his goal and raise a hand to fend the ball out, but it sat up to be tucked away by Walker. The plot thickened as somehow Walker’s header was blocked by the head of Tozer and Wrexham held on to their narrow lead.

Mullin was on the charge again in the 75^th minute, as he drove forward into the Dagenham box. The Wrexham striker was hell-bent on picking pockets in the away defence, and eventually he offered up a scuffed effort, which was hurtling towards Justham’s bottom corner creating gasps in the Racecourse, but the ball did in fact go wide.

Walker and Weston were proving to be tough contenders for the Wrexham back-line and the latter held up another inviting ball to the back-post, where McCallum thudded his head against the ball. Lainton wasn’t needed this time however, as the ball kissed the top of the crossbar in the 84^th minute.

Parliamentary ping-pong had made its way to the Racecourse in the dying embers of this affair, as the ball was bouncing back and forth through the Wrexham box, but there was space and a truly simple equalising opportunity for substitute Scott Wilson and somehow he dragged the ball wide of the post from six yards out.

Whistles embodied the Racecourse, as fans pleaded for the final whistle amongst intense Dagenham pressure and it finally came to huge cheers, as Wrexham claimed another 1-0 home victory.

Wrexham AFC: Lainton (GK), French, Lennon (Cleworth 76’), Tozer, Hayden, Reckord, Young ©, Jones, McAlinden (Jones 81’), Mullin, Ponticelli (Angus 70’)

Subs not used: Dibble (GK), Jarvis

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham (GK), Reynolds, Johnson, Wright ©, Walker, Sagaf, McCallum (Wilson 87’), Weston, Robinson, Ling (Saunders 46’), Vilhete

Subs not used: Clark, Phipps, Scott

Referee: Lewis Smith

Wrexham Bookings: None

Dagenham & Redbridge Bookings: Sagaf 11’ (foul)

Attendance: 8,033 (99)

Man of the Match: Paul Mullin

Match Reports

Ticket News

SUPPORTER INFORMATION | Wrexham AFC vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Key information for supporters attending our next home match

17 September 2021

For the second Saturday in a row, Wrexham AFC are at home at the Racecourse Ground, as we welcome league leaders Dagenham & Redbridge to North Wales. The match kicks off at 3pm.

The match is all-ticket and tickets must be bought in advance. All tickets must be collected from the Club Shop, which will be open 9am-5pm on Friday September 17, and from 9am-2.45pm on Saturday.

We ask all supporters to read the important information below and to please continue to be patient with staff and volunteers.

Ticketing and entry

As previously communicated, all tickets purchased for this game are being made available for collection from the Club Shop. No tickets have been posted out, and all supporters who have bought online should report to the shop.

To avoid the risk of long queues on match-day, and leading up to kick-off, we ask all supporters to collect their tickets in advance wherever possible. The Club Shop is open until 5pm on Friday, and collections are available until 2.45pm on match-day.

Please note, there will be no cash turnstiles in operation and all tickets must be bought either online or in store before the game.

Again, we ask all supporters to get to the Racecourse Ground early where possible, to reduce queuing times and ensure any enquiries can be dealt with promptly and well in advance of kick-off time.

All ticketing enquiries should be reported to the Club Shop.

Ticket collections close at 2.45pm, to assist in getting all supporters into their seats in time for kick-off.

Wrexham Lager Stand season ticket holders should enter via turnstiles 5-10. Mold Road Stand season ticket holders should use turnstiles 25-30. WREXRENT Stand season ticket holders enter via turnstiles 36-42.

Please only sit in your specified seat, and keep hold of your ticket in case any issues arise. Supporters found inside the Racecourse Ground without a valid ticket may be ejected.

Please note, all refunds relating to WREXRENT Stand ticket prices for the Woking game have now been transacted and supporters expecting a refund should check their bank accounts. Refunds for the Dagenham & Redbridge, for any supporter charged £20 for a WREXRENT Stand ticket as opposed to the advertised £16, will be issued within seven days of this fixture. This issue has now been resolved for all future home games.

Away supporters

Away supporters will be situated in the university end of the Wrexham Lager Stand. Entry is via turnstiles 1-4.

Parking

Parking is available in the Glyndwr University Wrexham car park, adjacent to the stadium, at a cost of £3 per car. Accessibl/blue badge parking is also available.

Please do not park in the main club car park, and please also be respectful of our neighbours when choosing where to park. Cars must not be parked in permit-only areas around the ground.

We know all supporters are proud of our place in the community, and we ask everybody to respect that when parking their cars so as to avoid disruption to our neighbours.

Please also be mindful of our neighbours when leaving the Racecourse Ground, and take care when walking to and from the stadium.

Travel information

By car: The Racecourse Ground is located on Mold Road. The postcode is LL11 2AH. By car, take the A483 from Chester or Oswestry to Wrexham. Exit at the ‘Mold’ junction and then follow signs for ‘Town Centre’ and the Racecourse Ground will come quickly into view.

By train: The nearest train station is Wrexham General, which is located next to the ground. Please note, under Welsh Government guidelines you must wear a facemask when travelling on Transport for Wales services.

By bus: Wrexham bus station is located in the centre of town. From the bus station, head towards the prominent multi-storey car park and turn right along Mold Road. The ground will be located on the right-hand side, just after you cross the bridge over the railway tracks, about half a mile along this road.

Hospitality

Guests in the 1864 Partners Lounge should enter the Racecourse Ground via the Mold Road reception, where you will be signed in and given a wristband.

Supporters in the Executive Room and Bamford Suite should enter via the Bamford Suite entrance next to the Centenary Club entrance, where you will be signed in and given a wristband. Entry opens at 12pm.

Please contact geoff.scott@wrexhamafc.co.uk should you have any further questions regarding hospitality.

Centenary Club

The Centenary Club entrance opens at 12pm, and all supporters wishing to use the ticket-only bar will be scanned in, and given a wristband.

Please keep your wristband safe, as this will allow you to re-enter the Centenary Club at half-time and full-time.

Drinks and street food will be available to buy. Street food can be bought from the kitchen serving hatch, where card payments will be available, and supporters can also place half-time and full-time drinks orders before exiting to their seats.

To gain access to seats, supporters will need to have their full Wrexham AFC season tickets scanned in at the rear door.

Individual match-day passes for the Centenary Club can be purchased, where available, from the ticket office. These cost £5 per game, and a ticket allows you access to the exclusive bar, and the chance to enjoy the lounge with fellow supporters before the game.

Big-screen TVs will be in operation, showing Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, to watch before the main event at the Racecourse.

Kiosks

Refreshment kiosks will be open for this game in all three stands, serving a range of hot and cold drinks, alcoholic drinks, hot food and confectionary.

We ask all supporters to use card payments where possible.

Match-day programmes

Printed match-day programmes will be available to buy from our sellers around the ground, at a cost of £3 each. Programme sellers will be situated within the concourse of the Mold Road Stand and WREXRENT Stand, as well as on the club car park outside the Wrexham Lager Stand.

Programmes will also be available to buy online from the club shop at shop.wrexhamafc.co.uk for delivery only, from Monday September 20.

An audio programme will also be available via the new WrexhamPlayer on the club website.

Bags/luggage

Please only bring necessary personal items with you, and only one small bag if essential. You can see a full list of prohibited items in our Ground Regulations.

Disabled supporters

Our wheelchair viewing platforms in the Mold Road Stand and WREXRENT Stand will be open for this game. Supporters who have been contacted to use the Mold Road Stand platform, should enter via the Mold Road Stand reception and use the lift.

Supporters who have been contacted to use the WREXRENT Stand wheelchair viewing platform should enter via gate 12, where Disability Liaison Officer Kerry Evans will meet you and take you across.

Wheelchair supporters should enter via gate 12, to the left of the turnstiles on Mold Road, for the level entrance into the stadium. Kerry Evans, will be at the entrance to welcome supporters and answers any queries you may have.

We ask that all wheelchair users stick to their allocated spaces, due to the high demand for places this season. Ticket-holders in the Autism Friendly section should also use gate 12 – our designated quiet entrance. The refurbished sensory room will be open for this game.

Our audio-descriptive commentary service will also be available for this game. Receivers can be picked up from reception in the Centenary Club and the Mold Road Stand, but supporters must bring their own headphones. Your commentators for the game will be George Randles and Alex Carter.

COVID-19 guidelines

Following the Welsh Government’s move to alert level 0, we ask that all supporters continue to remain vigilant and respectful of their fellow fans.

Masks are required in indoor areas unless you are exempt. Masks are optional in outdoor areas, and we ask all supporters to respect the decisions made by their fellow fans.

Where possible, when moving around the stadium, we ask supporters to be mindful of social distancing and to try to maintain it wherever they can.

Please also maintain good hand hygiene, use hand sanitisers where provided and avoid touching your face, handles or railings wherever possible.

You are responsible for deciding whether or not you should attend any match and, prior to attending each match, carry out a personal risk assessment based on your own age, health and susceptibility to infection and clinical vulnerability and of those in your household or support bubble (based on government guidelines).

You must not attend this game if you have been asked to self-isolate, and you should not attend if you or anyone in your household has developed any COVID-19 symptoms.

Please avoid unnecessary movement away from your seat, and wherever possible wait until gangways are clear to avoid queuing and crowded concourses as much as you can.

What time does the Club Shop open?

9am-6pm, but closed during the match.

What time is the ticket office open?

The ticket office will be open for on-the-day sales where available, and ticket collections until 2.45pm. There will be no collections after this time. All ticketing enquiries should go through the ticket office.

What time will the turnstiles be open?

The turnstiles in all areas will be open at 1.30pm for this game. Please make every effort to arrive early in order to ensure all supporters get in before kick-off.

Where do I enter the ground?

Please enter the stadium via the entrance marked on your ticket and see above for entry points too. Turnstiles for the Wrexham Lager Stand are located via the main club car park, where the club shop is situated. Turnstiles for the Mold Road Stand are accessible from the street. Turnstiles for the WREXRENT Stand are located on the path between the stand and the Glyndwr University car park.

Can I pay using cash or card?

Both card and cash are accepted at the Racecourse Ground, however we are urging all supporters to use card payments where possible.

What if I have questions or need extra assistance?

If you have any questions or need extra assistance, please don’t hesitate to speak to a steward or any member of staff. They will be happy to help. Our full ground regulations can be viewed on the club website.

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