Blackpool Reserves 4
Wrexham Reserves 0
Central League (West Division)

Match Report

Long-term injury absentee Juan Ugarte made his long awaited comeback in this opening Pontin’s League encounter of the campaign but could do little to prevent the Dragons from crashing to a 4-0 defeat. The Basque striker completed 55 minutes at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium (a ground fast becoming a bogey ground for the club following this second successive 4-0 defeat at the venue!) and understandably looked a little off the pace at times. But there was still the occasional glimpse of what Wrexham fans have missed from him over the past few years.

He nearly had the perfect return to action when he beat Danny Coid on the outside by the left-hand corner of the penalty area but the Basque just screwed a left-foot shot from 16 yards inches wide of Rhys Evans’ left-hand upright. Had that gone in it may have been a different outcome – we’ll never know – but by the 7th minute the Seasiders were ahead when Jamie Price brought Phil Marsh down in the box and Scott Vernon clinically dispatched the spot kick past Chris Maxwell.

The Dragons responded well and Josh Johnson fired over, a Ugarte lob drifted just wide, Marc Williams saw a goal-bound effort blocked, and a Mike Carvill shot fizzed just past the angle of post and crossbar. Blackpool were by no means inactive as an attacking force during this period and extended their lead three minutes before the break when the Dragons failed to clear their lines. Maxwell did well to parry Marsh’s curling shot but Vernon reacted quickest to follow up and net from the rebound.

Goalmouth action was at more of a premium after the break and there had been little threat at either end before substitute Danny Mitcheley hooked shot on the turn found the bottom right-hand corner of Maxwell’s net on 67 minutes. Carvill and Williams went close to grabbing a consolation goal in the closing minutes but it was the home side that had the final say when Adrian Forbes’s half-volley found the net in added-on time despite the best efforts on the line of substitute Johnny Hunt.