Match preview - Midweek trip to Wales as we get set to face Wrexham

11 March 2024

Defeated at home to Crawley at the weekend, Town get set for another tricky clash tomorrow (Tuesday) evening when they head to North Wales to face a Wrexham side gunning for promotion.

But Simon Weaver’s side travel knowing that victory could see them move back to within touching distance of the playoff positions with the final stages of the season ahead.

Our opponents

After earning promotion last season with the National League title Wrexham were amongst the favourites to secure a second successive promotion in 2023/24.

And with ten games remaining they are well placed to do so, currently sitting in third place on 66 points – and are just three points back of leaders Mansfield Town. Their season has been built on the back of a stellar home return where they have dropped just 10 points from 17 games, with their 48 goals comfortably the league’s best and comes at an average of almost three goals per game.

Earlier this season

The two sides played out a thrilling midweek clash back in late November at The Envirovent Stadium. The visitors grabbed a two-goal lead late in the first-half thanks to goals from Andy Cannon and Elliott Lee, but a goal on the stroke of half-time from Dean Cornelius reduced the arrears and Anthony O’Connor levelled just two minutes after the break.

There were chances for both sides to get a winner as the second-half progressed but ultimately both had to be content with a well-earned point.

The man in charge

Phil Parkinson is now in his third season in charge at the club, having taken over ahead of the 2021/22 season. In a 20-year managerial career Parkinson has had spells at the helm at Colchester, Hull, Charlton, Bradford, Bolton and Sunderland.

During his playing career Parkinson made over 500 appearances for the likes of Bury and Reading.

Ones to watch

Despite missing the start of the season through injury Paul Mullin has netted 15 times in just 24 starts this season, including a recent hat-trick against Accrington, and he has a strong partnership with Ollie Palmer.

Elliott Lee also has 15 goals from an attacking midfield position, adding four assists as well. Veteran Steven Fletcher arrived in late 2023 and has added eight goals.

Veteran Irish midfielder James McLean has proved a useful addition on the left-hand side whilst the club added midfielder Luke Bolton from Salford City in the January transfer window.

Ben Tozer has been a strong presence at the back, helping the club to promotion after arriving from Cheltenham Town, and Academy prospect Max Cleworth has seen plenty of minutes in recent weeks.

History

Whilst much of the focus centres on Wrexham’s recent story the club have a long history both domestically and in Europe, being the oldest club in Wales having formed back in 1864.

The club entered the Football League in 1921 as part of the Third Division North, spending the next half century in the bottom two divisions until earning promotion to Division Two at the end of the 1977/78 season.

A pair of relegations in the early 1980’s saw the club back in the bottom tier for the next decade before a promotion was secured in 1992/93. Financial problems hampered the club at the turn of the century, with the club entering administration and were ultimately relegated to the National League where they remained for 15 years before last season’s title winning season.

The club have also won the Welsh Cup a record 23 times.

Team news

Simon Weaver continues to be without Lewis Thomas, Rod McDonald, Sam Folarin and Liam Gibson.

Match Reports

Match report - Town play out stalemate at Racecourse Ground

12 March 2024

A goalless draw meant a well earned point on the road for Town in a match where strong defensive play was evident from both sides.

Town came into this one looking to continue the good away form throughout the season by picking up points against high-flying Wrexham who going into tonight’s clash occupied the final automatic promotion spot.

As for Town’s team news on the night, it was March and Gibson who entered the lineup in replace of Foulds and Dooley from last time’s outing against Crawley.

Weaver opted to shift things around in an attacking sense with Jack Muldoon supporter by Josh March through the middle. George Thomson and Abraham Odoh took on more reserved roles with the former making up a midfield two with Dean Cornelius.

For Wrexham, manager Phil Parkinson remained with the same eleven that won away to Morecambe at the weekend.

It was an end-to-end start to the game which was matched with the intensity of the crowd early on.

The first chance fell the way of Town as Odoh and Abu linked up well. A cross from Odoh found the head of Abu who leapt well but his effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Shortly after on 9 minutes, Wrexham’s first opportunity came from a corner which evaded a few bodies before finding the feet of Boyle who couldn’t find the target from 12 yards out.

Chances were of a premium for both sides throughout the first half, but Town showed glimpses of promise as Thomson had a couple of shots blocked from range looking to recreate something similar to his goal against Crawley at the weekend.

Just before the interval, Gibson was forced off due to injury to be replaced by Foulds. Hopefully nothing too serious having just returned from his previous hamstring injury.

After the break, Wrexham began to put pressure onto Town however the defence stood strong to slow the momentum and settle into the half.

Wrexham’s best chance fell to Palmer on 57 minutes as he drove inside shifting the ball past Burrell, but his powerful strike couldn’t test the hands of Belshaw and just went wide of the left post.

On 70 minutes Belshaw was called into action to prevent the ball from nestling in the corner via a Boyle header. The ball was whipped into the box from Lee on the left wing, the resulting header was smothered by Belshaw who did well to hold onto ball and halt any further danger.

Heading into the final 15 minutes, Weaver made two changes to freshen up the legs going forward with Sivi coming on for March, and Sutton for Cornelius.

The home side worked a great chance on 80 minutes as the ball was played into the box and flicked around the corner by Mullin to the substitute Marriott who had a clear sight of goal but miskicked strike not troubling Belshaw or the scoreline.

Belshaw was once again alive and determined to keep his clean sheet as a late attempt 25 yards from goal which was well saved to deny Wrexham the three points late on.

Wrexham threw everything they had to try and get the win in injury time, but Burrell was there to block the strike which was heading goal bound as the referee blew the full-time whistle