Thanks again to Rory Sheehan who will be providing match reports and feature articles
Wrexham 2 Mansfield 1
Wrexham booked their place in the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy by claiming victory in their first-ever appearance in non-league football’s premier cup competition. Mansfield Town were the visitors to the Racecourse following Wrexham’s disappointing Setanta Shield exit on Tuesday.
Dean Saunders made changes from the makeshift midweek line-up. Gavin Ward returned to goal with Andy Fleming and Nathan Fairhurst starting in midfield. Ashley Westwood came back to the defence and Patrick Suffo replaced the suspended Jefferson Louis up front.
Wrexham made a dream start and all but killed the game as a contest with two goals in the opening 10 minutes. After only 3 minutes Marc Williams worked hard to chase a throw-in to the byline, keep the ball in play, and cross across goal for Jonathon Brown to poke home the opener.
Mansfield were on the rocks after that early setback as Wrexham pressure forced their young goalkeeper Annerson into a number of saves. One of them led to a corner which was sent in by Nathan Woolfe and met by the head of Ashley Westwood to make it 2-0.
The managerless away side looked dead on their feet already with only Nathan Arnold offering anything remotely like a threat. Fleming pulled the strings in the midfield area which was pretty congested for the rest of the half.
Frustratingly for the Racecourse faithful, though Mansfield were kept well at bay, Wrexham were unable to build on their dominance and extend the lead out of sight. Suffo had an opportunity just before half-time to but the result beyond doubt but was foiled by a last-gasp challenge.
Early in the second-half Saunders introduced Wrexham new midfield signing from Team Bath, Steve Abbott, who replaced Patrick Suffo as Wrexham went with Marc Williams alone up front.
Though it was an excellent opportunity to ease the eager Abbott into a higher level of football, the change seemed to send out a signal to both sides that Wrexham were content with a 2-0 lead.
To counter this Saunders replaced Woolfe with Sam Aiston as Mansfield replaced Alex Jeannin with ex-Wrexham wide player Michael Blackwood to a mixed reception. Controversially the Stags pulled a goal back just minutes later.
With Neil Taylor off-the-field injured Wrexham were temporarily down to 10 men. Emile Sinclair pounced on the opportunity to run at a disorganised Wrexham defence, crossing for Aaron O’Conner to score from close-range.
A revived Mansfield continued to have a go at Wrexham but seriously lacked the quality to get back on level terms. Wrexham themselves went close late on hitting the post and the bar through Marc Williams and Jonathon Brown.
The game petered out, Wrexham continued their march towards Wembley, but Saunders will be concerned at how, having got into such a commanding position, Wrexham took their foot off the gas and let Mansfield back into the game.
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