aberystwyth 1 wrexham 1

28th November 2000: FAW Premier Cup Group A

Wrexham Cling On For Point

A second string Wrexham side had to hang on desperately to earn a point against an Aberystwyth side which dominated the second half. In the absence of a reserve fixture this week, Wrexham opted to give a number of players coming back from injury the chance to get ninety minutes under their belts when a change of personnel might have met the immediate needs of winning the match. In particular, Chris Killen was kept on the bench when Kevin Russell, who had made an inventive contribution in the first half, and Hector Sam were struggling to hold the ball up on the rare occasions that they were given decent service as Wrexham struggled to deal with a strong wind in Town’s favour.

Having made eight changes from the team which won on Saturday, Wrexham took time to gel early on, with Glyndwr Hughes reprising his impressive performance against the Robins last season, his direct, tireless running causing problems; an early burst ending in a twenty yard drive which Walsh held well.

However, in the tenth minute Wrexham snatched the lead with their first notable effort on goal. Emad Bouanane, looking frisky in his first start on the left side of midfield, tore past his man and pulled a cross back for the unmarked Robin Gibson to head home from six yards. Their lead was shortlived, though, as Lewis picked up a weak Ridler header, burst past the centre back and hit a powerful shot from the edge of the box which took a deflection off Carey and looped over the helpless Walsh.

A scrappy spell followed, but as the half wore on Wrexham began to impose themselves. Hector Sam affected a sublime turn to beat Phillpot but his drive was blocked by Barrow, Danny Williams and Paul Barrett, an energetic midfield pairing, both went close with long range efforts, and Gibson, who was finding plenty of space on the flank, scuffed a shot wide after Russell, who was providing some neat touches in the box, helped on a Barrett cross.

The Football League side looked in control, but the two best chances of the half were squandered, which were to prove more costly than seemed likely at the time. A fine interception by Hardy allowed Russell to play a killer ball to Sam on the edge of the area, but his powerful drive was well parried by Matthews, and Bouanane lashed the rebound over the open goal. Then, as the half wore to a close, Williams chipped a fine ball into the box to send Russell clear on goal, but his first touch was awful and the ball trickled out for a goal kick.

The second half was a total reverse of the first as Aberystwyth, fired up and backed by a good, vocal crowd and playing with a strong wind, dominated while Wrexham struggled to get a foot on the ball. For half an hour a scrappy yielded no real chances, but Town started to threaten as the game drew to a conclusion. Hughes fired the first warning shot when he hit a shot on the turn which Walsh covered well.

Wrexham responded with their only chance of the half, Barrow inadvertantly flicking Williams’ corner to Bouanane, who hit a poor right footed volley wide from six yards out. He was immediately replaced by Michael Blackwood, but the winger reeceived little service as Wrexham weathered a stormy conclusion. Evans headed a corner over from close range as a prelude for two dramatic moments in whoich Hughes might have snatched victory: first he was sent clear by the redoubtable Evans but hit a hurried shot which Walsh did well to save acrobatically, low to his right; then, in injury time, Walsh failed to dominate when Hughes chased down a high ball into the goalmouth, and the keeper seemed to pull the striker down as he chased the loose ball. Walsh had another hairy moment in injury time when Evans got across the front of him to beat him to a cross, but the ball arrived at an awkward height and he was unable to divert it on target off his chest. The final whistle came as a relief and the object of getting a number of half-fit players closer to consideration for the league line-up was achieved, but it was an end nearly attained at the expense of an embarrassing defeat.

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN (3-4-1-2): Matthews; Barrow, O’Toole, Philpott (Thomas 90); Hammond, Lewis (c), Smith, Mardenborough; Thomas; Allen, Evans.

WREXHAM (4-4-2): Walsh; Roche, Carey (c), Ridler, Hardy; Gibson, Barrett (Thomas 75), Williams, Bouanane (Blackwood 80); Sam, Russell. UNUSED SUBS: Rogers, Warren, Killen.

Referee: John Collins (Swansea)

Bookings:
Aberystwyth Town		Wrexham
Lewis (foul on Gibson, 58)		Carey (foul on Evans, 90)

Attendance: 1,561

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