Wrexham U19 2
Stockport County U19 3
National League U19 Alliance (Division H)

Match Report

Wrexham lost their unbeaten league record at the hand of rivals Stockport County in an entertaining match at Colliers Park, substitute Nathan McFarlane scoring the winner just four minutes from time when he raced onto a long ball to calmly shoot past Louis Parr.

With several of the Young Reds side having played in a friendly against Manchester City just 24 hours earlier, Dan Nolan’s charges could be forgiven a slightly lacklustre display in this top of the table clash but, having fought back from a two-goal deficit, the last gasp defeat was all the more disappointing.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with Reece Oliver heading narrowly over before Tom Jenkins just failed to convert a Kai Evans corner, whilst County’s Josh Osifo shot wide from Jack Kenny’s low centre.

The deadlock was finally broken on 33 minutes when Osifo made up for his earlier miss with a well placed header from Zack Stokes’ left-wing cross. County came close to doubling their lead two minutes before the interval when Milan Allison hit the post after a fine save from Parr.

Dan Nolan opted to bring on Dan Davies on for his namesake Rowan at the interval whilst McFarlane also entered the fray at the expense of Osifo for the visitors. With Wrexham struggling to come to terms with County’s direct style, Parr had to be alert to deny McFarlane before Liam Watson also brought a fine save from the Reds’ custodian.

Gradually Wrexham came back into the game and Kai Evans rattled the crossbar from distance with a stunning free-kick which then somehow bounced over the on-rushing Owen Cushion. Having come so close to levelling matters, Wrexham immediately found themselves two goals adrift as Parr misjudged another long ball which allowed McFarlane the simplest of finished after 68 minutes.

Captain Tom Jenkins reduced the arrears four minutes later with a low shot past Ted Bentham before Evans capitalised on a poor pass from County’s Jack Atkinson to round two defenders and shoot back across the keeper into the far corner of the net, Both sides pushed hard for the winner in the final 65 minutes before McFarlane decided matters with his late strike.