Salisbury 1-1 Wrexham

Feb 28 2010

Wales On Sunday

Wrexham boss Dean Saunders was left fuming at referee Kevin Johnson after a late penalty gave 10-man Salisbury a point.

The Red Dragons looked good for all three points after Christian Smith put the visitors ahead and then Patrick Cox saw red for tugging back striker Andy Mangan when through on goal.

But Salisbury stole a share of the spoils in the last minute when Curtis Obeng was adjudged to have brought down Chris Flood in the box and Matt Tubbs scored from the spot.

And an angry Saunders insists his side are not getting the rub of the green from Conference officials.

He fumed: “You have got to be 100% sure to give a penalty and the referee’s got that one wrong.

“Curtis Obeng has kicked the ball against the lad’s stomach, he gives a penalty and it has cost us the three points.

“But I’m getting used to decisions like that – they are happening more and more.

“It’s a long way home and I don’t think I’ve ever been so disappointed since I’ve been at Wrexham.

“After they’ve had a man sent off, they’ve only punted a long ball up field and he’s given a penalty. I’m amazed.”

Wrexham – now 14 points off the play-off places– were guilty of missing numerous chances.

“They had a couple of shots in the first half, but we had 10 efforts on goal – we had enough efforts to win three games let alone one,” said Saunders.

“We put in a good solid performance, but we should have put the game out of sight.”

Wrexham went with a lone striker in Mangan, but the visitors looked the most like scoring early on. The former Forest Green forward had two great chances, but saw one blocked and another float wide of the mark.

Wes Baynes then whistled an effort just wide of the post from a free-kick before Salisbury finally began to find their feet.

Full-back Sean Clohessy’s cross found striker Tubbs, but he fired over the bar.

Luke Holden then rattled the post for Wrexham before Clohessy had to be on hand to clear the ball off the line for the Whites from Baynes’ effort.

Sailsbury improved after the break with Tubbs looking the most likely to shock Wrexham – his effort shaving the post.

But Wrexham broke the deadlock when Obeng’s cross flicked off Mangan and Smith had the simple task of tapping home in the 67th minute.

Less then two minutes later, Cox pulled back Mangan and was given his marching orders.

Mangan had another chance to put the game to bed, but put his header over the bar. And they lived to regret iwhen Tubbs kept his cool from the spot.