Wrexham AFC 1 (Sam) Oxford United 0


This isn’t an easy report to write. I enjoyed this game yet at no time did United look like winning, I enjoyed the day out but the journey was appalling, hold-ups on the M6 and horrible twisting A class roads from Crewe. Add to that the fact that the chippy was closed and the Burger King disappointing and I could paint you all a pretty gloomy picture. It wasn’t like that, honestly!!!
United fielded the same XI that beat Bury and started brightly, Savage shooting over in the first minute. However it became quickly obvious that Wrexham had an Ace up their sleeve, Carlos Edwards.
A minute later he cut in from the left and was immediately hacked down by Matthew Bound. Fortunately the free kick was wasted. This set the pattern for the vast majority of the game with Wrexham moving the ball from defence into midfield then out to the flanks, in particular to Carlos Edwards, then whipping the crosses in to Morrell and Jones.
United’s full backs were being given a torrid time with Robinson barely able get within a yard of Edwards and it was only heroics from centre halves Crosby and Bound that kept the score level.
On 13 minutes McNiven miss-kicked following a mix up with Woodman but Holmes managed to shoot wide of Woodman’s left post.
Soon after Jones crossed well from the left but Morrell conspired to shoot wide when it looked easier to score. United replied with Omoyimi’s smart through ball to Hunt forcing Rogers to come off is line quickly and gather.
Wrexham’s quick movement was completely outfoxing the United midfield and Morrell and Carlos Edwards switched positions twice on 32 minutes with Edwards producing good shots on goal. United then countered with Whitehead putting Savage through but his shot was deflected for a corner. This was wasted and Wrexham in turn counter attacked with Whitley shooting over.
The half finished with Waterman having a rare shot just wide of the right post and Morrell shooting over from just outside if the box.
United altered formation for the second half, with Savage sitting deeper to protect Robinson.
Oldfield played just in front of the midfield with substitute Scott ploughing a lone furrow up front. United were happy to attack on the counter and on 47 minutes a good diagonal ball from Oldfield to Scott forced a good tackle from Thomas to force a corner.

Wrexham looked far more likely to break the deadlock with United seeing plenty of the ball only because of poor passing from the home side. Morrell and Jones continued to see their best efforts blocked by the heroics of Bound and Crosby (perhaps that’s why Roget and Okikola didn’t sign).
In the 62nd minute Whitehead broke down the right and crossed to the back post. Unfortunately Scott had run to the near and the midfield was too deep to pick up the pieces.
On 64 minutes Carlos Edwards had a glorious opportunity to open his account. Beating Robinson easily again he took the ball into the box, looked up but took too long and Robinson was able to steal the ball back.
2 minutes later United found Hunt 20 yards out , his turn and shot was probably his most notable contribution of the half but it deflected off Kevin Francis look -a-like Lawrence.
Basham replaced a tiring Oldfield and on 78 minutes his shot was charged down by centre half Lawrence.
It took until the 81st minute for Morrell to finally find a way through Bound and Crosby but his weak shot was easily gathered by Woodman.
It would have been a travesty of Justice had United nicked a point and so it was of no surprise when Wrexham broke Oxonian hearts in the 87th minute. The only surprise was that man of the match Carlos Edwards had nothing to do with the creation of the goal. Substitute Paul Edwards crossed from the left and fellow substitute Sam rose above the defence to head past Woodman’s right.
Ian Atkins threw on Bobby Ford whose one contribution in the time unavailable was to thread a glorious through ball to Scott who was offside …just.
In the final analysis, this was a game that last season United would have lost by 3 or 4 goals. Losing in the final minutes is always a choker, but some supporters impatience with Atkins is a little wide of the mark. This side is not a strong as it could be and as soon as Ford , Scott , and Basham are fully fit they should find starting places with little difficulty. Bobby Ford especially impresses every time he appears, his one opportunity last night produced United’s pass of the game.
David Waterman was my man of the match. Wrexham produced little from the centre midfield and this was due to the snap and snarl of the former Portsmouth man. He is destined to be a Martin Gray type of player, performing a vital role without ever doing anything that will endear him to the fans.
Perhaps that’s why I enjoyed the game, knowing that this squad can and , hopefully will win enough games this season to be in contention.
See you all at Feethams.



Wrexham
Kristian Rogers
Jim Whitley
Shaun Holmes
Stephen Roberts
Shaun Pejic
Dennis Lawrence
Carlos Edwards
Stephen Thomas
Paul Barratt
Andy Morrell
Lee Jones

Subs
Paul Whitfield
Lee Trundle (for Jones 59)
Paul Edwards (for Holmes 65)
Hector Sam (for Thomas 78)
Dan Bennett

Bookings
Trundle (foul) 65

Oxford United
Andy Woodman
Matt Robinson
Scott McNiven
Andy Crosby
Matthew Bound
David Savage
David Waterman
Dean Whitehead
James Hunt
David Oldfield
Manny Omoyinmi

Subs
Andy Scott (for Omoyinmi 39)
Sam Ricketts
Bobby Ford (for Waterman 90)
Paul Powell
Steve Basham (for Oldfield 71)
Bookings
Waterman (foul) 83
            
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