Wrexham FC 1-1 Altrincham FC: Mark Currie’s verdict

Mar 10 2010

By Mark Currie - Daily Post  

Ten-man Wrexham mounted a brave second-half rearguard action at the Racecourse last night but finally had to settle for a point against Altrincham after conceding an equaliser eight minutes from the end.

In a feisty encounter, the Dragons had veteran defender Frank Sinclair dismissed – harshly it seemed – on the stroke of half-time for a challenge on former Racecourse skipper Tom Kearney who was quickly taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

The incident simmered throughout the second half, with the visitors collecting five bookings, and two Wrexham players were also cautioned as referee Steve Martin struggled to maintain control of proceedings.

Wrexham looked to be on course for a league double over their opponents in what was the fourth meeting between the sides this season after they took a first-half lead through a seventh goal of the season from Wes Baynes.

But the loss of Sinclair was too much of a handicap, although the match official might have evened up the numbers after the break when several nasty fouls were punished only by cautions.

In just one change to the home side that drew 1-1 with Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, Sinclair was preferred to Mike Williams at the back.

For Altrincham, midfielder Peter Doran passed a fitness test on a dead leg to take his place in the starting line-up, but defender James Smith was missing with a hamstring injury.

The visitors, who were accused by AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown of being negative in their 1-1 draw at Kingsmeadow at the weekend, again deployed a five-man midfield, leaving Chris Senior to forage up front on his own.

But the Dragons found a way through in the fifth minute, Baynes cutting in from the right, and his off-target shot was close to being steered in by Andy Mangan.

The Robins’ willingness to concede space when their opponents were in possession opened up a path for Mark Jones, but he drove the ball high and wide of Stuart Coburn’s goal from 25 yards.

And the Dragons had another chance when Silvio Spann’s through-ball eluded Williams, who recovered well enough to hamper Mangan and when the ball ran loose, Baynes saw his effort blocked.

Altrincham, who to that point had rarely threatened, won a 22nd-minute penalty for a clumsy challenge by Spann on Senior, but the striker’s spot-kick was well saved by Sam Russell diving low to his right.

Wrexham resumed their onslaught, Andy Fleming bursting into the box to head wide from Mangan’s centre, and it was the striker whose well-timed cross produced the opening goal in the 33rd minute, Baynes side-footing home from eight yards.

The home side might have doubled their lead two minutes before the break when Jones picked his way through only to see his shot parried by Coburn, and Fleming’s effort from the rebound was blocked.

But controversy erupted immediately afterwards as Sinclair was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Kearney, who was stretchered from the field and replaced by Robbie Lawton.

From the restart, Wrexham’s reorganisation saw defender Mike Williams come off the bench in place of Jones, but there was no suggestion of trying to sit on the lead and from Luke Holden’s corner, Baynes steered a header just too high.

And on the hour when Spann whipped in a great cross, Shaun Densmore prevented Holden from scoring.

Altrincham, who introduced striker Colin Little to reinforce their striking power, began to take control as the game went into the final quarter, but they could not push forward in numbers while Mangan was poised to pounce on the slightest error.

The home crowd, who felt Sinclair had been harshly done by, reacted furiously to a scything foul by Robbie Williams on Holden just outside the penalty area when the defender was merely cautioned.

The visitors finally got on terms in the 82nd minute when Greg Young met a cross with a powerful header, and Wrexham felt cheated in the final minute when the referee waved away appeals after the big defender impeded Fleming in the penalty area in the last action of the match.