Stockport County U19 1
Wrexham U19 3
National League U19 Alliance (Division H)

Match Report

Wrexham produced a superb all-round team display to come from a goal down to win 3-1 at table-toppers Stockport County. Coach Dan Nolan could feel rightly proud of his young charges who survived a testing opening half-hour before going on to dominate proceedings. Captain Tom Jenkins was at the heart of everything with fellow midfielder Will Mountfield netting a second-half brace to secure a valuable three points.

With a fierce wind blowing across the Stockport Sports Village ground, County began the brighter and made full use of the breeze to play several balls in behind the Wrexham defence. However, it was a loose clearance that presented Dallas Omoruyi with the game’s first real opportunity after ten minutes, but the County striker fired narrowly wide.

In response Wrexham’s created a couple of half chances, Tom Jenkins sending a great ball out wide to Jacob Milner who cut in from the left only to see his cross-cum-shot saved at the near post by Luke Graham whilst the Stockport custodian also had to be alert to race out and clear from the advancing Dan Jones after a Joe Fountain through pass.

Midway through the first-half County left-back Zack Stokes fired the visitors a warning with a long range shot which flew past the post. Three minutes later, they deservedly took the lead when his Wrexham counterpart Rowan Davies misjudged a long pass from Jack Atkinson allowing Adam Rothwell to net low past Louis Parr. The lead should have been doubled on 29 minutes when, with the Young Reds’ defence all at sea, Rothwell sliced his shot wide of a gapping goal after a fine pull-back from Cameron Bradbury-Allen.

Injury soon forced Harry Bell out of the action with Jack Towse taking his place as Jenkins rallied his teammates to get back into the game. This they duly did three minutes before the interval when good work from Will Mountfield and Jones provided Fountain with the opportunity to fire a wonderful 20-yard shot into the top corner of the net. Towse immediately went close with another drive that flew over the angle of crossbar and post.

Wrexham started the second period with increasing confidence and on 47 minutes they took the lead when Milner waltzed his way past three defenders before calmly picking out the unmarked Mountfield, the midfielder side-footing the ball home from ten yards out. Jenkins then hit the top of the crossbar with an in-swinging corner before Oli Hitchcox sent in a thunderous right-foot shot which was just off target.

This prompted a double substitution by Stockport coach Michael Raynes and for a while Wrexham were forced onto the back foot, Rowan Davies making a last-ditch tackle to deny Omoruyi whilst Louis Parr had to save smartly from Stokes. However, the result was put beyond doubt after 69 minutes when Jenkins’ right-wing cross was misjudged by the home custodian and Mountfield headed home from close range.