Wrexham: Season Finale

Hello friends and welcome back to the final chapter of my first season with Wrexham as we chase for the title in a two horse race with Luton Town.

With five matches left to play we started off with a home game against Tamworth. Ismael Fofan put us ahead after 16 minutes  following a delicate through ball from Williams to Baheng who whipped across the area for Fofana to tuck home. He added to his tally right on half time with again Williams being the playmaker though this time to Lyskov who  was the end provider. We appeared to slack off again in the second half but have taken another step closer to the title.

The tension was mounting, the stakes so very high as we entered the field at Kennilworth Road to face second place Luton Town. A pre-match rallying cry of “for the fans” I hoped would boost the team and sure enough we took the lead after Fofana was brought down in the box running onto a Gilomour pass. Fofana sent the keeper the wrong way and it was 1-0. Three minutes later an intelligent through ball by LB Darren Lough found Wesley Ngo Baheng and it was 2-0. However, Luton forcefully took over the game from that point and we spent much of the time on the back foot but defended well. Finally Luton broke through with a rocket of a shot in the 74^th minute and when Lough was sent off five minutes from time things did not look good. The lads held firm and we came away with a massive victory that gives us a six point lead over Luton.

Our next game was also away in an all Welsh battle against Newport County. Just what we needed. We started brightly making good headway down both flanks but Baheng and Forfana upfront were nowhere to be seen when the ball was worked into the box. Brian Gilmour though finally played in the right ball and Fonfana ran onto it to break the deadlock just after the half hour. Further expedetions into Newport territory proved fruitless and although we got off lots of shots  we couldn’t come up with anymore goals. Three points though which means we only need one more to become champions!

The following ganme was at home to Barrow and a chance to secure the title in front of the home fans. My biggest problem was again fatigue and I had to make several changes. Ismael Fofona had the ball in the back of the net early on but was his effort was disallowed for offside. Almost immediately we gave away a penalty and Barrow took the lead. We then laid seige to the Barrow goal but could not break through their resolute defence and indeed the lack of composure contributed to wasted opportunites. With the game seemingly out of our reach substitue striker Marc Williams was first to react to a Dean Keats lob forward and he placed it neatly under the Barrow keeper to level the score. Williams almost added another but the point was good enough and we were Champions and on our way back to the Football League!!

We travelled to Darlington for the final game of the season and secured another three points with a late goal by Francis Laurent with Wesley Baheng providing the assist.  We didn’t go out on a high note but it was a victory and I’m pleased with the outcome.

Final Table

So there we have it, champions of  The Blue Square Premeir League when we were predicted to finish 7th. The board were delighted of course which will hopefully make them forget about my cup exit!

That’s concludes the first season with Wrexham and now  I shall move on to assessing the squad and deciding whose in and out as preparations immediately begin for life in League Two.

Thanks one and all for following along and I look forward to bringing you more updates from The Racecourse Ground.