Bury

19th August 2000: Nationwide League Division Two

Caribbean Magic Ignites Wrexham’s Season

After the disappointment of last week’s opening match, the season began here for Wrexham fans with a victory Brian Flynn rightly descibed as “emphatic”, inspired by a dazzling debut performance by Carlos Edwards. It was at Gigg Lane that Gary Bennett made his debut eight years ago, announcing his arrival as a Racecourse legend with two goals, and Edwards’ first appearance for the Reds had a similarly portentious feel as he roasted Lee Unsworth in a display which had the travelling support drooling over what he’ll be like when he’s not jet-lagged!!

Brian Flynn made significant alterations to his side after the defeat to Bristol City, Dave Ridler bringing more experience to the heart of defence ahead of Steven Roberts, Edwards playing down the left wing in place of Robin Gibson, and Danny Williams replacing the injured Michael Blackwood to revert to the three in midfield which has usually been Flynn’s chosen formation. The reshaped team enjoyed immediate success when Edwards twisted and turned on the corner of the box before playing a neat reverse pass to the over-lapping Williams, whose low cross to Craig Faulconbridge on the edge of the six yard box enabled the striker to turn his man and shoot past Paddy Kenny.

Bury responded with a series of corners, and their long ball approach ensured that they applied plenty of pressure on the Wrexham defence, but they carved out few goalscoring opportunities as the back four stood firm; Carey and Ridler were towering presences in the box and Rogers passed a stiff aerial examination of his confidence after the shaking experience of last Saturday.

Gareth Owen nearly added to Wrexham’s lead with a trademark surge and shot which went just over from twenty-five yards with Kenny straining, before, in the 17th minute, the home defence was breached once more. On numerous occasions they had pushed out too far, perhaps to limit a midfield whose reputation for possession football has travelled before them for the last couple of years, but they were always in danger of falling to the pace of Hector Sam. Eventually the threat became reality: Ferguson chipped the ball over a static back line to leave Sam in acres of space, clear on goal. He had enough time to step comically on the ball and induce a few Wrexham fans’ hearts into their mouths before ramming it convincingly past Kenny.

Sam’s pace and Faulconbridge’s aerial prowess look to be the makings of a formidable partnership, and they combined well on a couple more occasions before the half ended, Sam lashing a flick-on over from six yards and seeing a similar effort deflect over off the knee of Collins. He really ought to have made it 3-0 in the 25th minute when, sent clear once again, he dallied before Kenny and allowed Chris Swailes to slide in from behind and tackle him. There were furious appeals for a penalty from players and bench alike, but revealingly, Sam did not take part, adding to the impression that, rather than being unfairly robbed of a chance on goal, it was a case of he who hesitates is lost.

Bury began the second half with determination, but again it was all attrition and no invention as the Robins defence repelled high ball after high ball. Paul Barnes missed a glorious chance to turn his barren afternoon around when he headed well wide when in space six yards out, and his frustration was to prove costly. Anyone who has been watching lower division football over the last few years will know Barnes to be an irascible, physical character, but he went too far in the 53rd minute when, having come deep into his own half to flick on a throw-in, the referee penalised him for some typical backing-in. His angry reaction led to a yellow card for dissent and, therefore, the ball was moved forwards ten yards to the edge of the area. Darren Ferguson’s attempt to take a quick free kick was cleared, but play was pulled back by the ref, to Wrexham’s delight when Ferguson teased a second effort onto the penalty spot where Faulconbridge met it with a terrific diving header which planted the ball into the bottom right corner.

Bury responded with a double substition, the culpable Barnes and Littlejohn being replaced by Baichung Bhuttia and Dean Crowe. The Indian was a lively presence in the hole,but it was Crowe who made the immediate impact, drilling the ball into the bottom left corner after a high free kick had been cleared to him in the D. Within four minutes he received another chance in an identical position, but on his occasion Rogers did well to save low to his left.

Despite Crowe’s strike, Wrexham remained in control. Morrell replaced Sam, who went down with what seemed to be cramp, and Edwards, who had faded in the second half, giving way to Gibson. Their victory was sealed in the 78th minute with a goal of true quality. After some neat interplay between Ferguson, McGregor and Owen across midfield, Williams picked the ball up on the right, just in Bury territory, and embarked on a surging run which took him to the edge of the box and culminated in a sensational left-footed drive into the top left corner.

There was still time for Bury to mount a late rally, more out of pride than anything else, and player-manager Andy Preece, no doubt driven by this humiliation against his old club, twice hit the crossbar in the space of a minute in injury time. First, after a scramble from a corner had seen Bhuttia’s shot blocked on the line by Roche, his header from the rebound clipped the woodwork on its way over; then his turn and shot lacked nothing in venom, but was tipped onto the bar superbly by Rogers. Another goal would have flattered Bury, but it was appropriate that Rogers should be called on to excel at the end, allowing him to make an eye-catching contribution to what really was a terrific team performance.

WREXHAM (4-3-3): Rogers; Roche, Carey (c), Ridler, McGregor; , Ferguson, Owen, Williams; Edwards (Gibson 82), Faulconbridge, Sam (Morrell 71). UNUSED SUBS: Dearden, Roberts, Chalk.

BURY (4-3-3): Kenny; Unsworth, C. Swailes, Collins, Barrick (D. Swailes 82); Daws(c), Billy, Reid; Littlejohn (Bhutia 56), Barnes (Crowe 56), Preece. UNUSED SUBS: Bullock, Redmond.

Referee: G. Laws

Attendance: 3,613 (Away Support 727)

Bury Match Reaction

Home	Association News
Match Reports	Membership Details Supporter Events Player of the Year Trophies Ticket Prices and Directions Feedback
StatZone	Links
Current Season Players’ Records Club Records	History of the Hospital Radio Broadcast Griff’s Word