Thanks again to Rory Sheehan who will be providing match reports and feature articles
Kidderminster 1 Wrexham 0
Dean Saunders tasted defeat in the BSP for the first time as Wrexham manager with in-form Kidderminster Harriers ending his run of 5 consecutive wins. Ironically for long spells during the game the Dragons played some of their best football of the season so far and were unlucky to hit the woodwork on numerous occasions.
Saunders fielded an unchanged line-up though there were two new faces on the substitute’s bench. Cameroon international striker and Olympic Gold medallist Patrick Suffo was part of the squad the squad for the first time as was teenage YTS defender Kai Edwards.
Both sides showcased their attacking intentions early on. Marc Williams played a good long-ball to Wes Baynes who bombed forward to smash one of his fierce long-range shots against the post. Shortly after Williams went close himself with a shot narrowly wide after a flick-on from Louis.
Against the run of play the home side took the lead when Ritchie De Laet let Matthew Barnes-Homer cross to reach Brian Smikle and he was allowed time by the Wrexham defence to compose himself to shoot past Ward.
Wrexham didn’t buckle under with the setback and immediately looked for an equaliser with 20 minutes to go until half-time. On-loan midfielder Nathan Woolfe had Harriers goalkeeper Bartlett beaten with a terrific drive that again off the post.
Soon after De Laet left the action through injury and was replaced by Neil Taylor. On the stroke of half-time Jefferson Louis met a cross from Marc Williams inside the area only to see his shot beat Bartlett but not the woodwork. For the third time in the first-half Wrexham luck just wasn’t in!
Wrexham began the second-half in a positive manner, enjoying plenty of possession and using it constructively. With Kidderminster’s goal seemingly living a charmed life Saunders upped the ante and replaced Carl Tremarco with Suffo as he looked to add even more cutting edge.
The substitution almost paid off instantly. From the breakdown of a corner, a cross from Mike Williams was met by Suffo 6 yards-out only this time Bartlett actually made a save to keep the ball out.
As the clock ran down chances fell to Louis that on another day he would have buried but it just didn’t seem to be our day. Our final substitution saw Nathan Fairhurst replaced by Levi Mackin.
In the closing minutes both Louis and Marc Williams came tantalisingly close to that elusive equaliser, firstly Williams with a shot wide. Then both strikers failed to connect with an outstanding cross from Woolfe who had worked so hard to create the opening – and was less than impressed when it came to nothing, beating the turf in frustration.
The game ended with Saunders and Wrexham wondering just how much better they’d have to have played to get something out of the game, and the travelling support riled by the wind-up antics of ‘Kiddy’ ‘keeper Bartlett. Instead, Bartlett should have been thanking the woodwork for doing his job in keeping Wrexham out as he was continuously left stranded throughout the afternoon.
Given the strength and quality of the performance this was a disappointing defeat which, due to abysmal results prior to the arrival of Saunders, leaves us far off the BSP summit.
However, the crumbs of comfort to take from the trip to Aggborough are that we can match and better any side in this division. Roll on the trip to Stevenage Borough next weekend…
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