Hello friends and I am happy to bring you my latest update as Wrexham begin life in League 2 after an unexpected title win and promotion fron the Blue Square Premier League.
We opened the season with a trip to Prenton Park to face Tranmere Rovers. We got off to a dream start as Shane Williams through ball found the on running Laurent who samshed it into the top of the net after 14 minutes. Tranmere’s response was to set up base camp just outside our 18 yard area twenty minutes later they found their equalizer. I was expecting the lads to fold but we responded admirably and a dipping corner by Williams found the foot of Baheng who tucked the ball inside the the near post to give us the lead once more. Another corner by Williams found Gilmour at the the edge of the box who struck the ball delightfully to give us a 3-1 lead at the half. The second period was not as exciting and so the scoreline remained unchanged and we started the season off with three points!
The following game was a trip to the north east to face Hull City in the League Cup. After Hull went down to 10 men after only 5 minutes I thought we were in with a great chance of an upset. Try as we might it wasn’t until the second half that we finally broke down our opponents defence when Fofana whipped in a cross from the left flank that Pogba was first to react to and made it 1-0. We kept that lead for about 10 minutes as Hull piled on the pressure and once the equalizer went in morale and stamina dropped dramatically and Hull found a further two goals to brush us aside and we exited the competition.
Next up was our our first home game of the season with the visit of Bournemouth in front of an excited crowd at the Racecoure Ground. Due to fatigue both skipper Brain Gilmour and his midfield partner Shane Williams both missed the game as well as striker Natahniel Jarvis who will be out for 5 months with a torn calf muscle and a bitter blow both individually and to the team. Sixteen year old CM David White was drafted up from the youth squad and ended up with a respectable 7.00 on his 1st team debut. Oliver Nicholas got us off to a perfect start heading in a corner inside two minutes and not long after Lee McArdle unleashed a powerful effort from a cleared corner to make it 2-0. A cross from the left by Alex Smith was met by the head of debutant forward David Nwaogu and we were three up inside 15 minutes. Smith would end up getting sent off in the second half but it didn’t matter as those early goals were enough to send the fans home happy.
We travelled to Crewe for yet another away game and up until the 80th minute it was looking very much like a bore draw. Crewe’s free kick just outside our 18 yard area was cleared to Baheng on the half way line and he sprinted towards the Crewe goal and neatly squared the ball to right winger Patrick Nzuzi to score his first ever goal for the club. Lewis Emanuel then added a second striking the ball from inside the box deep into injury time for an unexpected victory.
With the injury to Jarvis as reported earlier I managed to negotiate a short term loan of three months for Nathan Modest from Nottingham Forest.
The final game of the month was at home to Lincoln and new signing Nathan Modest made an immediate impact heading in from a Lee McArdle free kick inside 15 minutes. We were unable to make the most of that great start and the visitors kept the ball for long periods of the game. As in the previous game we hit our opponents on the counter attack from a free kick with a run by Shane Williams ending in a pass to Baheng who added our second 15 minutes from time. So we ended the month with another three points and unexpectedly top the table!!
As the transfer window was coming to a close a made three additonal signings. The first one was GK Martin Hansen who was in the news since June but didn’t want to sign for anyone. I was so fed up at seeing his name I made a bid and he put pen to paper straight away.Will most likely be the new number one goalkeeper.
The second was highly reccomended young defender name Jack Metcalf who had spent time at Liverpool and Wolves. I was pleasantly suprised with the fans reaction to hime joing Wrexham.
The final signing was actually a short term loan of Aswaki Asante as I’m still unsure about Pogba up front so Asante will provide good cover for Wesley Baheng.
Full Transfer Activity
Current League Table
September Fixtures
I certainly hope we can continue this great start to the season and get some more points under our belts. The games are nicely spread out next month so having fit players should not be an issue.
Thanks for reading.
Jack
16 декабря, 2010 at 11:14
A dream start there Kevin :) unlucky in the cup but I suppose it gives you the chance to focus on promotion for the time being. Your defence again looks very solid and that will keep you in good stead, and some great signings too! Good luck for the rest of the season if you keep this up you’ll have promotion sorted by Christmas :P
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:31
Hi Jack
Yes it was a dream start…totally unexpected especially as I’m using my own tactic!
Lye
16 декабря, 2010 at 12:37
Hi Kevin,
Great month there. You must be happy sitting on top of the table now. I believe Hull is too strong for you and you can’t do much going out of the league cup. Hopefully you can maintain the form and that will put you in good position for a promotion spot.
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:33
Hi Lye
I always new I’d lose to Hull so no worries really. But, I’m very happy I’m top of the table
Sayam Khan
16 декабря, 2010 at 14:06
Brilliant start kevin!
Some good new signings also, Hansen & Asante, Johnny also has these players.
Good luck
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:34
Hi Sayam
Thanks a lot. I saw both in Johnny’s game and Hansen was wanted by everyone but wouldn’t sign. So I thought waht the heck and he did for Wrexham!
hils
16 декабря, 2010 at 15:32
Hi Kevin,some good signings there!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will do well!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:35
Thanks hils for your continuing exclamation marks. I look forward to them :)
Laxeyman
16 декабря, 2010 at 17:08
Great start there Kevin, well done! Your side look comfortable in League 2 and you have a great chance of promotion if you can keep up your form and not suffer too many injuries. Good luck!
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:36
Hi Laxeyman
I hope the form continues too. I’ve improved my back room staff with a physio that has a 15 rating so that might help.
Sears
16 декабря, 2010 at 17:41
Great start Kevin, keep it up!
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:37
Cheers Sears !!
Darren Smith
16 декабря, 2010 at 18:50
Well done on a fantastic start Kevin. Four wins in the league really does declare yourself as promotion candidates. Im looking forward to another successful season mate.
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:37
Thanks Darrren
Yes, it’s a great start and hopefully we can build on the early success.
Johnny Karp
16 декабря, 2010 at 19:20
Great start Kevin, fantastic! The team looks strong and it will be even stronger with those new faces, I guess we’ll be witnessing a thrilling promotion race. Good luck!
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:40
Hi Johnny
I still had a few days of the transfer window left after my last game of the month and i felt there were still opportunites to improve hence the short term signings.I think i have a pretty decent squad for the campaign
Ana Garcia
16 декабря, 2010 at 19:43
I noticed you hit the wood work 4 times in 4 games in the league so at least you are as just as unlucky as me!! Its nice that it didnt cost you any points and you went on to win the games anyway!
But a strong start so the best of luck this season.
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:40
Ola Ana
Yes we love the woodwork too :) Thanks for the well wishes
warren
16 декабря, 2010 at 19:58
A really good start to the season and your proving your worth in League 2. Hopefully this will be a good indication on how well you can perform this season.
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 00:41
Hi Warren
Thanks for the comment. I’m hoping for us to build on this start.
Arjuna
17 декабря, 2010 at 02:14
Great start Kevin, you seem to have adapted well to League 2, and you can hopefully stay near the top of the table. Good start!
Kevin
17 декабря, 2010 at 07:52
Thanks Arjuna
Early days but I don’t mind if we can keep leading the pack :)