Manager Phil Parkinson hailed the ‘magnificent’ Wrexham supporters as Paul Mullin’s late header helped rescue a point in front of the Club’s record attendance in the National League last night.
Despite snatching a point at the death, it was a game where the visitors shared the greater possession but couldn’t convert their chances to take the game out of sight for the Red Dragons.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, Parkinson revealed he had sympathy for the 9,147 supporters in the stadium for the way the game panned out.
He said: “I felt for the supporters in the first half because in the first three games of the season they’ve seen us dominate the first half and be excellent and we were unable to do that tonight.
“The supporters were incredible. Every single person who came in supporting Wrexham tonight was absolutely magnificent, a 10/10.
“I’m disappointed in the first half in particular, I felt they played the conditions better than us and we tried to play but we were to slow at it.
“We didn’t pass through their press quick enough or with enough quality and we were pegged back into our own half.
“We didn’t mix our game up with enough quality and I was disappointed with the way we played first half.
“They tried to take any tempo out of the game, but second half I thought we responded well, and I’m delighted to get the point and it could have been all three in the end as well.”
Fraser Kerr managed to open the scoring for the Spirites, and it could have been even more had Rob Lainton not denied the league’s top scorer, Kabongo Tshimanga, from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time.
Paul Mullin’s equaliser arrived courtesy of the trademark Ben Tozer throw, and Parkinson added he felt it was always going to be a game where set pieces made the difference.
“We had two or three chances before their goal through Bryce and Jordan, but they got the goal through the set piece.
“It was the kind of night where blustery set pieces were going to have an impact as we saw with Ben’s long throw and Paul getting his goal.
“We didn’t utilise Ben’s passing out from the back enough tonight, but his long throw was crucial and got us back in the game and nearly got us the win.”
Tozer’s presence alone was a surprise, after he was stretchered off during Saturday’s abandoned game at Aldershot, but Parkinson confirmed he had only suffered soft-tissue damage.
Defensive injuries did strike again, however, as Jamie Reckord collided with Carline in a 50/50 challenge just before half time which saw him replaced by Tyler French in the second half.
“Recks wanted to carry on and finished the remainder of the first half, but we felt that Tyler would be best suited to replace him in the second half,” Parkinson said.
“Ben played in a lot of pain tonight after suffering a bang on the nerve and his whole leg went numb on Saturday.
“People are going to have to roll their sleeves up at times this season and play through knocks and Ben has set a good example tonight.
“For Luke Young it’s different. He suffered an ankle ligament injury which will keep him out for six-ten weeks. He’s a good player and we’re going to miss him.
“I hope it’s closer to the six than the ten.
“We can use this break to take a rain check and get one or two players such as Bryce back up to speed and ready for the FA Cup which we are looking forward too.”
With no fixture this weekend due to the odd number of teams in the league, our next game will take place on October 16, away to Marine in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round.