Wrexham 3
Wycombe Wanderers 2
League (League One)

Match Report

Background

One year on from returning to the Football League, newly promoted Wrexham celebrated their 5000th league fixture with a season opener against a Wycombe side well established in League One. Phil Parkinson’s first matchday squad included just six players from that game against MK Dons twelve months earlier, with Ollie Palmer for Sam Dalby the only change from the final friendly win over Fleetwood. Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield handed debuts to new signings Nathan Bishop, Alex Hartridge, Dan Harvie, and Tyreeq Bakinson, with Richard Kone playing as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Report

Despite the Red Dragons dominating the early stages, it was the visitors who had the first sight of goal when an errant pass from Elliot Lee gave Kieran Sadlier the chance to break clear, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Arthur Okonkwo. Four minutes in Andy Cannon saw a goal bound effort deflected just wide of the post with Chairboys’ defender Jack Grimmer lying prostrate after a clash of heads with his team-mate Bakinson. After a delay of some five minutes, and with Wycombe temporarily down to ten men, Lee’s resultant near post corner flicked off the head of Luke Leahy into the path of Max Cleworth who netted from close range.

With George Dobson dominating midfield, Wrexham doubled their lead just short of the half-hour mark with a goal of stunning quality. Lee’s flighted pass into Palmer saw the former AFC Wimbledon striker deftly flick the ball on for Jack Marriott to cushion on his chest before rifling home a right-foot volley which brought the vast majority of the 13,000 plus crowd to their feet. The goal seemed to galvanise Wanderers who hit the woodwork twice before the interval, Josh Scowen’s instinctive snapshot rattling the crossbar before, deep into injury time, Kone headed Sadlier’s corner onto the bar only for the referee to penalise the striker for a foul on Lee.

Wycombe boss Bloomfield made a tactical switch six minutes into the second period with Dan Udoh replacing Bakinson, the ex-Shrewsbury player playing in a more advanced role just behind Kone as the visitors attempted to get back into the game. James McClean and the impressive Marriott both had chances to extend Wrexham’s lead before the visitors deservedly pulled a goal back on 58 minutes, Eoghan O'Connell’s clearance deflecting off Dobson into the path of Kone who shot high into the net from six yards out.

Stephen Fletcher and Dalby replaced Palmer and Marriott, whilst George Evans came on for Cannon with Dobson moving to the right of midfield as Wrexham looked to close the game out. The result was effectively put beyond doubt seven minutes from time when Dobson fizzed in a pass to Lee who played a sublime one-two with Dalby only for the midfielder’s first-time shot to be well saved by Bishop, Hartridge’s subsequent clearance falling at the feet of Fletcher who calmly showed all his experience to steer the ball into the unguarded net. Former Welsh international Sam Vokes gave Wycombe a late lifeline when he headed home Leahy’s corner, but Wrexham held on for the three points without any further scares.

Quotes

"I’m so pleased, I thought it was a great game of football. The first 30-35 minutes I thought we were outstanding, everything we set out to do against their shape we did. We got in some terrific positions and got the goals. They had a little spell before the break but was that us taking our foot off the gas a little bit or was that them, because they’re a good side? Second half we had chances to extend the lead, but the third goal was really important."
Phil Parkinson (Wrexham AFC Manager)

"It was a good game between two very good teams, but we’re in an evolution stage. There were plenty of positives with our style and we dominated large parts of the game, as we passed the ball around very well. Nothing today surprised me as we’re in a building stage in which there’ll be good and bad bits."
Matt Bloomfield (Wycombe Wanderers Manager)

Post Match

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson acknowledged that lessons had been learnt from the previous year’s Stateside trip, with the squad returning a full week earlier to prepare for the big kick-off.

The attendance of 13,214 was Wrexham’s largest opening day home league gate since August 1978 when 14,081 witnessed a 0-0 draw with Brighton in a Second Division clash.