Thanks again to Rory Sheehan who will be providing match reports and feature articles
Wrexham 2 Oxford 0
The first visit of the Setanta TV cameras to the Racecourse this season saw Wrexham take maximum points in yet another early season clash against fellow promotion ‘rivals’.
Former recent Football League side Oxford United were the visitors. The only change to the side for this game saw Buckley & District Reds sponsored Kyle Critchell make his debut on the right in place of Simon Brown.
Both sides looked well matched in the opening exchanges and it was Wrexham that came closest to opening the scoring when Carl Tremarco’s free-kick was headed against the bar by Jefferson Louis. Shaun Whalley was just a little slow in reacting to the rebound, and shortly after Critchell had a speculative shot at goal as well.
With 10 minutes gone Whalley raced into the area only to be hauled down by Luke Foster. A penalty was awarded and Foster was dismissed. Louis stepped up to take the spot-kick but his attempt was well saved by Jake Cole in the Oxford goal. With Oxford reduced to 10 men we still had a slight advantage however and Louis would more than make up for the miss later on.
It was no surprise that we began to dominate and exploit our numerical advantage. Levi Mackin was very influential in spreading the play and creating openings but for all the chances it was from another set-piece that we got the opener. A Tom Kearney corner was met with a diving header from Steve Evans to make it 1-0 after half an hour.
We continued to control most of the play, Critchell and Spender combining well down the right, but lacked the cutting edge to further our lead. When Oxford did get the opportunity to break forward they looked dangerous through Haldane, Constable and the very pacy, well-balanced Yemi Odubade.
After an extended break to accommodate Setanta viewers half-time ‘entertainment’ (basically consisting of making Wrexham hero Mickey Thomas unsuccessfully boot footballs into a big blue box in the centre circle), we were underway again.
Oxford started well but again the promising midfield partnership of Mackin and Kearney imposed their authority. Mackin broke forward and fired in a couple of well-struck long-range shots only to be met by outstanding saves from Cole.
Gavin Ward was called on to make a number of good saves in the Wrexham goal when Oxford managed to break forward and slip the Wrexham defence. An added threat came from the introduction of the diminutive Carl Deering.
To ease the pressure Baynes and Taylor were introduced in place of Aiston and Critchell as the game came to a close. In the dying seconds of normal time the result was put beyond doubt.
Jefferson Louis had not let his head drop after seeing his early penalty saved. He’d worked his socks off, on and off the ball, for the Wrexham cause and got his reward when he picked the ball up, charged into the area beating a number of flagging Oxford defenders on the way, before powering a low shot into the back of the net sealing the points.
Just seconds later Louis was replaced by Simon Brown and achieved instant Cult Hero status when Setanta reporter Rebecca Lowe grabbed him, barely moments after leaving the field, to ask why he had come off. His reply: “Cos I was a bit f***ed”. Cue rapid apologies from Rebecca and an immediate cut back to the game.
When the final whistle went the Wrexham faithful were able to leave the Racecourse for the second successive home game smiling following another comprehensive victory.
Overall it’s been a good start to the season. We’ve got a new team, a new megastore, lots of media coverage, and are riding high in the table. Obviously there are a number of things still to work on but we were given a tough opening and York apart, we’ve negotiated it well.
As for going to games shown by Setanta? Their coverage is intrusive and not wholly conducive to the matchday experience. However, they might think twice about some aspects of their coverage after asking Jeff Louis for his post-match thoughts. YouTube gold.
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