Wrexham Reserves 0
Blackpool Reserves 2
Central League (West Division)

Match Report

After beating Tranmere Rovers, Morecambe and Bury in their previous three outings Joey Jones’ side were looking for a fourth successive victory when Blackpool arrived in Buckley. And they had enough opportunities – particularly in the first half – to have extended their winning run with considerable ease. But they found Seasiders’ keeper Rhys Evans to be in inspired form and two goals in the last eight minutes gave the Championship side a flattering victory and condemned the Dragons to an undeserved defeat. And whilst the defeat was a disappointment for those fans that braved the cold evening to venture to Globe Way the game itself was an entertaining affair.

The first of many Dragons’ chances came in the 10th minute but Evans made the first of a number of good saves during the course of the evening when he tipped Conall Murtagh’s 16-yard volley over the bar. The former England U21 international then denied Gareth Evans with a smart save low down to his left from the resulting flag kick. Murtagh then unluckily saw a snapshot strike the inside of the left-hand upright and rebound to safety a couple of minutes later, and Matty Done drilled a shot just wide of the post shortly afterwards.

It was pretty much one-way traffic at this stage and a mistake by right back Scott Metcalfe let Marc Williams in but again Evans was down smartly to save. Murtagh again went close with a difficult chance that drifted just wide, and Marc Williams had more time than he realised after good work down the right by Mike Carvill and skied his shot from near the penalty spot way over the bar. The visitors had barely had a look in as the first half neared its conclusion but there was a let-off for the Dragons on 38 minutes when the ball dropped kindly to Scott Vernon and the experienced striker’s well-struck shot crashed against the bar with Michael Jones well beaten.

It was no surprise that the second half started in a somewhat quieter manner to the first, though Wrexham still enjoyed the better of the proceedings, with Carvill forcing an early save from Evans and Levi Mackin seeing a shot blocked inside the six-yard box. Andy Fleming then met a good deep cross by Chris Marriott on the volley at the far post but couldn’t direct the ball on target and it flew wide, and another incisive pass by Marriott put Done clear but the wide man over-hit his cross when Marc Williams was unmarked in the middle.

As the game approached the three-quarter point the visitors finally started to assert themselves into the game and Jones twice denied John Hills from close range before a superb block by Gareth Evans denied the Blackpool man’s third attempt. It was still a bit of a shock though when the visitors grabbed the lead in the 82nd minute, substitute Danny Mitchley working himself some space in the left-hand side of the box before emphatically beating Jones with a left-foot drive into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Three minutes later the game was effectively over when Gareth Evans brought Mitchley down inside the box and the substitute stepped forward himself and sent Jones the wrong way from the spot. Two minutes from time the Dragons were presented with a golden opportunity to force a grandstand finish when the referee awarded a second penalty after Marc Williams was fouled inside the box but the impressive Evans dived to his right to save Carvill’s spot kick.

“Apart from the last 10 minutes, I thought we were the better side,” said Joey after the game. “I was just about to settle for a 0-0 draw and put it down to one of those nights when we failed to put away our numerous chances, when they went and scored twice. It was disappointing, because I had been pleased by the way we played and after two heavy defeats to Blackpool in 2007, it looked like we might get our own back. It was not to be, but we can still take plenty of positives from the night.”