Wrexham U19 5
Marine U19 0
National League U19 Alliance (Division H)

Match Report

Wrexham produced a dominant first-half performance against bottom of the table Marine with Dan Jones and Jacob Milner both netting a brace of goals before substitute Harry Bell rounded off the scoring after the interval.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, coach Dan Nolan opted to start with the same side that had won 2-0 at Eccleshill seven days earlier. The Young Reds quickly established control in midfield and came close to taking the lead after seven minutes when a fine move involving Joe Fountain and Jacob Milner saw Dan Jones’ close range finish ruled out for offside.

Tom Jenkins then saw a snapshot clip the outside of the post before Jones waltzed his way through the Marine defence only for goalkeeper Jake Barlow to parry the striker’s fierce goal-bound shot clear of the danger zone.

The goal Wrexham’s fine attacking play deserved duly arrived after 25 minutes when the lively Jones held off two defenders before shooting past Barlow, the shot taking a slight deflection as it looped up over the custodian’s outstretched hand. Two minutes later Jones doubled the home side’s lead as he calmly side-footed a volley into the net after Milner’s initial effort had been blocked.

Milner made it three on 36 minutes when he rounded off a fine move with a simple finish from the edge of the six-yard box after Jones had put Caleb Hughes clear on the right-wing, the first-year trainee’s low cross perfectly picking out the tricky winger. Five minutes later the duo produced a carbon copy for goal number four, Tom Jenkins this time supplying the defence splitting pass.

The interval proved the Marine coaching staff with the opportunity to re-organise their overworked defence although it was primarily Wrexham’s profligacy in front of goal which saved the Rossett Park side from a far heavier defeat.

Caleb Hughes was close to adding a fifth goal just five minutes into the second period but he could only head Will Mountfield’s over the angle. Jones shot narrowly wide whilst Mountfield saw his drive strike the keeper’s body and rebound to safety off the upright.

Substitute Harry Bell netted his second goal of the season on 74 minutes with a fine solo effort which saw the striker cut in from the right-wing before sending a low shot into the far corner of the net. Wrexham were denied a sixth when fellow sub Owen Cushion raced onto Fountain’s cross only for Barlow to produce a stunning save which drew audible praise from his counterpart at the other end of the field.