BEAVON’S FIRING THE DRAGONS
ASINGLE goal from onloan striker Stuart Beavon was enough to give Wrexham a hard-fought home win against Barnet.
The Dragons maintained their position among the top four courtesy of the Coventry man’s cute first-half finish as the away team registered few chances of note.
The final score was closer than he would have liked, but manager Sam Ricketts declared himself pleased with the result after two difficult away trips to Solihull and Harrogate.
“I thought we were really, really good first half and 1-0 going in possibly could or should have been two or three,” he said.
“In the second half, in all fairness to Barnet they came out and made us work really hard to get over the line and get the allimportant three points.
“I think you saw our players’ grit and determination at the end of a long week; games on an artificial turf does sap energy out of players when they’re not used to playing on a surface like that.”
Ricketts’ team started the game on the front foot as Jordan Maguirechance squandered an excellent opportunity to put the Dragons ahead quarter of an hour in, firing wide after the ball was nodded into his path by Chris Holroyd. Wrexham knocked on the door again with three corners in quick succession, two of which forced Bees’ keeper Mark Cousins into tipping the ball behind. The home side finally took the lead shortly before half-time when Beavon’s first-time finish found the bottom corner following some clever play by Holroyd inside the penalty area.
Barnet failed to create a single opportunity in the first 45 minutes but Rob Lainton had to stay alert just after the break when confusion in the Wrexham defence allowed Wes Fonguck a chance, which the stopper saved comfortably.
The Dragons answered through Maguire-Drew as the game opened up and the winger curled a left-footed shot over the bar from the edge of the area.
Former Grimsby man Luke Summerfield also had a halfDrew to double the advantage in the 73rd minute, firing just wide.
John Still’s men did manage to apply some pressure as the game drew to a close and captain Craig Robson came closest to levelling as he headed over from a corner.
But Wrexham saw the remainder out to earn their first win in three following a 3-0 defeat at Solihull and goalless draw against Harrogate in midweek. STAR MAN: Shaun Pearson (Wrexham) ATT: 4,727 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Andrew Miller 5/10