Colchester Utd

17th February 2001: Nationwide League Division Two

McGregor Screamer Earns Precious Win

A remarkable long distance goal by Mark McGregor underlined his value to the side and earned Wrexham a valuable three points today as they registered their first league win of 2001. The goal illustrated some of Wrexham’s short-comings as well, though: firstly, it took the sort of spectacular strike which you cannot legislate for to earn the three points, and Wrexham had to defend grittily at the end to protect that lead, having once more failed to capitalise on their domination to earn the breathing space of a two-goal lead; and secondly, although McGregor is to be commended for scoring five goals from defence already this season, the fact that the four he has registered in the league leave him only two behind top scorers Hector Sam and Craig Faulconbridge tells us a lot about the goalscoring problems which have hindered Wrexham’s progress up the table.

Wrexham made a bright start to a scrappy first half which offered little goalmouth incident, but it took thirteen minutes for them to manage a serious effort on goal when Ferguson took a typical quick free kick from distance which Woodman did well to save low to his right. Owen also went close, lashing over from twenty yards after Faulconbridge chested a return pass to him, but United soon roused themselves and enjoyed a good spell after going desperately close to opening the scoring. Joe Dunne, who was a constant threat down the right in the first half, worked a 1-2 with McGavin and crossed to the far post where his opposite wing back, Joey Keith, was unmarked but planted a volley against the face of the bar.

United took a grip of midfield from this point, but the back four built on the progress they made at Bristol City, excelling individually and collectively, while Dearden put Tuesday night behind him and showed an encouraging domination of the six yard box. It was fitting, therefore, that one of the defenders should make the breakthrough, somewhat against the run of play. Mark McGregor emerged with the ball down the left, received a return pass from Faulconbridge, cut in onto his right foot and curled a sensation goal inside the far post from out on the wing, a good thirty yards out.

Less than a minute later it looked like the lead might be doubled when Faulconbridge, characteristically chasing a lost cause, latched onto an awful back header by Simon Clark and fell on the edge of the box as he cut inside the last defender, Scott Fitzgerald. The referee waved play on and returned to book Faulconbridge for diving when the ball went dead. Tellingly, the striker failed to raise a protest at either decision.

Often Wrexham have been unconvincing in the first half at home this season, and have roused themselves after the break. This time their drab performance had earned a half time lead, and they managed a trademark positive second half to defend their it. Kevin Russell, who was excellent once more, often peeling off to the left wing to stretch the United defence to the utmost, smashed two fierce drives from the edge of the area, both of which were heroically blocked by Fitzgerald. Ferguson also went close after a Carey tackle had ended a rare Colchester attack, allowing Faulconbridge to find the midfielder, who nipped the ball past the last defender but in doing so knocked it just too far ahead of him, letting Woodman race off his line and smother the shot.

Robin Gibson replaced the industrious Carlos Edwards just before the hour and built on his performance on Tuesday with another lively performance. He linked with Gareth Owen, whose own display corresponded to his team’s – lacklustre in the first half, inspirational in the second – to set up Russell, whose shot was smartly saved, and within a minute Woodman was called into action again when Faulconbridge’s shot deflected kindly towards the keeper. Gibson himself went close with two shots of his own within sixty seconds of each other, the first going too straight, the second deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Ferguson whipped the ball in and Faulconbridge, stretching all the time, couldn’t keep his header down from close range. Faulconbridge went closer minutes later when Ferguson and Gibson combined well down the right to set up Russell, whose measured cross was headed just over from eight yards.

Having failed to add to McGregor’s strike despite their total domination, Wrexham were bound to suffer a backlash, and in the last fifteen minutes Colchester regained a foothold in midfield, forcing the back four to resume their vigilant watch. They only created one chance, but it ought to have been enough to earn a draw as a lucky ricochet allowed Scott McGleish to run clear on goal, only to be denied by an excellent parry from the onrushing Dearden. The Wrexham keeper did force the home fans to suffer a nervous moment at the end of the match when he headed weakly away and chose to chase his poor clearance into the crowded midfield, scrambling his way past an opponent before hacking it away.

The excitement at the other end was offered by debutant Lee Trundle, who was given a brief run at the end of match to the delight of the fans, who had cheered him whenever he left the bench to warm up. He didn’t offer the same aerial presence as Faulconbridge, but was certainly strong when the ball was played in to his feet, and delighted the Kop late on when he turned Clark inside-out on the goal line. Perhaps he will be able to end Wrexham’s dangerous reliance on Mark McGregor’s goalscoring ability?

WREXHAM (4-3-3): Dearden; Roche, Ridler, Carey (c), McGregor; Owen (Blackwood 84), Ferguson, Barrett; Edwards (Gibson 58); Russell, Faulconbridge (Trundle 84). UNUSED SUBS: Rogers, Morrell.

COLCHESTER (5-3-2): Woodman; Dunne (Duguid 53), Fitzgerald, Clark (c), Johnson (White 46), Keith; Gregory, Skelton, Stockwell (Keeble 81) , McGleish, McGavin. UNUSED SUBS: Pinault, Brown.

Referee: H. Webb

Bookings:
Wrexham		Colchester
Faulconbridge (diving, 37)		Clark (foul on Ferguson, 45)
Ferguson (foul, 90)

Attendance: 2,492

Reaction: Brian Flynn/Mark McGregor/Lee Trundle

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