AKIL POPS UP WRIGHT ON CUE FOR DRAGONS

LEADERS Wrexham made it six matches unbeaten under new manager Bryan Hughes with a hard-fought victory over an in-form Chesterfield at the Racecourse.

A second-half strike from Akil Wright was all that separated the sides following a gruelling 90 minutes that was big on rugged effort and commitment but shy of too much quality.

Not that it mattered to Dragons boss Hughes who was full of praise for his players afterwards.

“It’s a massive victory because we always knew it was going to be difficult today against a Chesterfield side who were in really good form,” he said.

“They’ve had one defeat in nine before today and it wasn’t the most entertaining game but it was very workmanlike from us.

“We did what we had to do and when that moment of quality came in the game we took our chance.

“Akil has got all the ability in the world to get into those areas and that’s what I’ve been saying to him over the past few weeks.”

Almost 20 minutes had gone before the first genuine goal threat was carved out by the visitors, with Marc-Antoine Fortune seeing his shot blocked and the rebound falling to Curtis Weston whose rising drive was watched over the bar by Dragons keeper Rob Lainton.

Wrexham were finding opportunities equally difficult to come by although Ben Tollitt should have done better nine minutes before the break when he was found by Stuart Beavon’s pass but was unable to take the ball around Shwan Jalal, who was quickly off his goal-line to make the save. But the contest burst into life after an hour, the Dragons snatching the lead when Luke Young’s cross was steered past Jalal by Wright but only a superb save by Lainton from Ellis Chapman and then a goal-line clearance by substitute Jason Oswell to deny Will Evans prevented the visitors from quickly levelling it up. But the home side weathered the storm and the defence stood firm to ensure they remain the side to catch as the race for the title enters the final stages. Dejected Chesterfield boss John Sheridan added: “I don’t think we deserved to lose the game because we were organised and solid again and I think we’ve thrown it away, to be fair. “I’m beat up about the manner of the goal because I could see it being a 0-0. We’re playing against a good team that are top of the league but we matched them for most of the game. “We had a throw five yards from their corner flag but seconds later we conceded the goal and that’s just what happens at this level of football.” STAR MAN: Akil Wright (Wrexham) ATT: 7,106 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Carl Brook 5/10