5th September 2000:

25th November 2000: Nationwide League Division Two

At Last, a Stroke of Luck!

After a succession of decent performances which were rewarded with defeat, it was a refreshing change to see Wrexham emerge with three points from a match in which they struggled to carve out clear-cut chances, and which they indeed could have lost after a late Bristol Rovers rally. Furthermore, the manner of the winning goal lent credence to the notion that the Robins had finally enjoyed a change in fortune, cloaked as it was in controversy. When a Chalk corner was cleared to Gareth Owen outside the area ninety seconds from the end of normal time, it was inevitable that he would have a go at goal, bearing in mind his screamer on Tuesday and the fact that he had forced Nick Culkin into a save from an identical situation moments earlier, but the outcome was unexpected. While his shot was venomous, it seemed to be covered by Culkin, but Craig Faulconbridge was on hand to deflect it past the keeper to clinch victory. Rovers were furious, claiming that the striker was standing offside, but their protests only added to their problems as three players were booked for dissent and, as they let their feelings get the better of them in injury time, one of the locquacious trio, skipper Andy Thompson, sarcastically applauded the linesman for correctly penalising a challenge on Hector Sam, and the referee punished him with his second yellow card. With Lewis Hogg lucky to escape with only a booking after seeming to stamp on Michael Blackwood after hacking him down, Rovers’ loss of discipline was complete, capped by a mandatory fine for accumulating an awesome seven bookings, five of which came after the 89th minute!

For much of the game Wrexham had dominated without carving out many real chances. Despite being less than 100% fit, Darren Ferguson immediately started pulling the strings in midfield, with Faulconbridge and Chris Killen a mobile, hard-working duo up front and Phil Hardy, making his first appearance of the season, uncharacteristically progressive. There was an early, controversial incident when Killen broke into the box only to go down under a heavy challenge from Foster, but no penalty was forthcoming as remarkably the referee was still back on the halfway line when the challenge took place and was therefore in no position to give a penalty with any certainty. TV replays implied that Killen had a strong case, and Wrexham had another shout for a spot kick turned down when Ferguson worked a short corner and drove a ball into the box which struck Challis’ arm as he turned away. While it was certainly unintentional, his arm was held high and away from his body, factors which often tempt referees to point to the spot, and Ferguson certainly appealed enthusiastically.

Decent chances were few and far between, though. Chalk had a shot from just outside the box which took a nasty deflection and span over Culkin but just wide of the post; a driven Faulconbridge cross from the left was headed narrowly over by Killen with the keeper beaten; and Culkin had to be quick off his line to beat Faulconbridge to the ball after the striker had sold a wonderful dummy from a Ferguson pass and nearly latched onto the loose ball himself. Rovers,who boast the best away record in the division, hardly threatened until they lost David Hillier just after half an hour, his replacement, Vitali Astafjevs bringing an element of control to midfield which was to grow as the match wore on. Their only threatening moment in the first half came at the close when Bryant blasted a shot through a crowded box which whistled narrowly wide with Dearden well beaten.

The second half started with a bang, Carlos Edwards latching onto a poor Culkin kick and driving a powerful shot which the retreating keeper held well just 48 seconds after the restart. After that bright start the half became a war of attrition, with the visitors enjoying a greater say in proceedings than in the first half. The lively Cameron nearly capitalised on an error by Carey, driving narrowly wide, while Pethick had to be quick to tackle Chalk as he latched onto a loose ball in front of goal, but few clear chances were created, so both managers threw their seven-goal leading scorers on from the bench in an effort to liven matters up. Nathan Ellington had the desired effect and went close after a sharp turn, but Hector Sam had an unhappy time, squandering a promising break almost immediately and throwing away what looked like being the best chance of the match in the 78th minute when a typical Owen combination of fight and flair sent him totally clear on goal, only for him to blast horribly over the bar.

The Bristol team finished strongly, though, forcing a string of corners, one of which forced Dearden to tip over at full stretch, and carving out a good chance when Challis, perhaps distracted when he had to adjust his position as the wind caught Pethick’s cross, put a free header over at the far post. At least Gareth Owen, who had not really stood out through most of the game, was also enjoying a second wind, taking responsibility impressively after Ferguson had to go off with a knock which put him on crutches after the game. He went close when a Pethick booking for dissent led to a free kick being moved forward to the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected narrowly wide off the heel of the last man in the wall. His most telling contribution was yet to come, though, as he set up the goal which decided the game in Wrexham’s favour.

WREXHAM (4-3-3): Dearden; Roche, Carey (c), Mardon (Ridler 81), Hardy; Chalk, Ferguson (Blackwood 75), Owen; Edwards, Killen (Sam 63), Faulconbridge. UNUSED SUBS: Rogers, Russell.

BRISTOL ROVERS (5-3-2): Culkin; Pethick, Foster, Thomson (c), Jones, Challis; Bryant, Hogg, Hillier (Astafjevs 33); Walters (Ellington 69), Cameron (Johansen 83). UNUSED SUBS: Clarke, Foran.

Referee: C.H. Webster (Shotley Bridge, Durham)

Bookings:
	Wrexham	Bristol Rovers
	Carey (tackle from behind on Walters, 23)	Jones (tackle on Sam, 68)
		Pethick (dissent, 78)
		Foster (dissent, 89)
		Challis (dissent, 89)
		Thompson (dissent, 89)
		Hogg (foul on Blackwood, 90)
Sending off:
		Thompson (second booking, dissent, 90)

Bristol Rovers will receive an automatic fine for collecting seven yellow cards.

Attendance: 2,575

Reaction: Joey Jones/Ian Holloway/Craig Faulconbridge/Gareth Owen:

The bizarre story of how Gareth Owen was credited with Craig Faulconbridge’s goal!!

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