Thanks again to Rory Sheehan who will be providing match reports and feature articles
Wrexham 1 Salisbury 1
Yet again Wrexham dropped points at home with another disappointing showing, to a team in the wrong half of the BSP table, rounding off a very frustrating week for Dragons fans. Ironically earlier on in the season with Salisbury at their peak, a Brian Little side achieved a 4-1 win there away from home.
New signing from Worcester City John Curtis went straight into the side at right-back. The former Manchester United and England U-21 & ‘B’ cap replaced Neil Taylor, as the only change to the side.
Risky play at the back between Gavin Ward and Sam Williamson in the opening minutes nearly produced a goal for the visitors but fortunately Ward atoned and was equal to Salisbury’s close-range efforts.
Having survived that scare it was the Dragons who took the lead after only 6 minutes. Curtis played the ball down the right for Marc Williams to run onto. At the byline Williams touched it to Brown whose cross was met from 6 yards out by Ryan Flynn for his trademark close-range finish.
Despite looking neat in possession and going forward, part-timers Salisbury had no outstanding player or any real threat in the final third. The only questions being asked of Wrexham were whether they could build on their lead and make their superior fitness and ability tell in the form of goals.
Unfortunately a sense of déjà vu gripped the Racecourse as the break approached with the Dragons having fashioned little in the way of goalscoring opportunities. Ryan Flynn made a darting run down the left before earning a corner with a shot from his favoured right-foot.
On the stroke of half-time a Sam Williamson shot was parried by goalkeeper James Bittner. The ball fell to Jon Brown but his tame effort was cleared of the line and the chance to put the game to bed went begging. The Dragons would rue it.
The second-half was as poor as the first with Wrexham unable to stamp their authority and dominate the game. Their cause wasn’t helped when, with just over half an hour to go, Marc Williams was stretchered off with a foot injury.
Patrick Suffo entered the action and though capable of nice touches it was clear Wrexham had lost a lot of edge. Chances did come their way though, the best perhaps being the one which fell to Mike Williams only for him to fire over the bar from 6 yards out.
With just over quarter of an hour to go the visitors won a corner. Unmarked, Charles Ademeno headed home from just inside the 6-yard box as Gavin Ward failed to keep the ball out. Wrexham’s defending from set-pieces still leaves a lot to be desired.
Salisbury now had the momentum and Matt Tubbs should have made it count when his header forced Ward into action, and Saunders responded by replacing Flynn with Jamie McCluskey.
McCluskey made an impact down the left but the opportunities he created were wasted, the best falling to the wrong player again as Ashley Westwood missed from close-range.
Despite 4 minutes of injury time Salisbury were able to hold onto their well-earned point and perhaps reflect, had they been more ambitious in the closing stages, that it could have been three.
All of a sudden Dean Saunders has mounting headaches. He has to arrest this mini-slump as soon as possible, improve the defending from set-pieces, settle on his best midfield and find a decent striker or two who can play 90 minutes to fill the void left by the injury to Marc Williams.
On the plus side John Curtis performed well on his debut but signing a right-back now seems like unnecessary cosmetic surgery when there are more pressing areas of the team that require attention.
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