THAT’S WHAT ROO WILL GET
Dragons ace makes his point amid contract wrangle
JOHN Rooney made his point to the Wrexham board after inspiring the Dragons to a welcome point.
The Dragons top scorer, who was named National League Player of the Month this week, has started the last three matches from the bench as he is about to activate a clause in his contract, which is thought will trigger an extension to his current one-year deal.
But he climbed off and set up Jordan White for an 81st-minute equaliser after Joe Healy had given Dover the lead midway through the second half.
Rooney is currently in talks with boss Dean Keates and wants to stay at the Racecourse Ground, while the manager too is keen to keep his star man – but only at the right price.
“We have not come to an agreement and it is what it is with John,” Keates said. “But it does not matter at the moment as we are winning games. John knows the situation and I want him to stay.”
On the performance, he added: “I am very happy to get a point in the end and that is as good as we have played this season.
“I am proud of the lads and the character they showed to get back in the game – in truth, we could have won it in the last five minutes.”
Inspired by their own midfield ace, Nicky Deverdics, who returned to the club this week on loan from Hartlepool, Dover start- ed the brighter with the chances falling to left wing-back Aswad Thomas.
First, he was unable to find the target with two free headers and then curled a 25-yard strike just wide from Ricky Miller’s pass.
Deverdics continued to create chances. His free-kick evaded everyone and Chris Dunn could only watch as the ball bounced the wrong side of the post.
Dover’s king of assists last season was not to be denied and after creating space out wide, his angled drive was parried by Dunn into the path of Healy, who made it two goals in as many starts with a tidy finish.
White’s late leveller was almost followed by a Welsh winner. Rooney’s free-kick was gathered at the second attempt by Steve Arnold and Ntumba Massanka’s low cross eluded every red shirt in the box.
Dover manager Chris Kinnear was disappointed to only take one point having seen his team create numerous scoring opportunities.
He said: “Today was as well as we have played for quite a while, we made chance after chance.
“We should have been way away from them, but we are a lot happier with our performance today and we have played quite well the last two home games.”
“Today was as well as we’ve played for quite a while, but we should have been well away from them” Chris Kinnear Dover manager “I’m very happy to get a point, that’s as good as we’ve played this season. I’m proud of the lads” Dean Keates Wrexham manager