Young’s strike is just enough against 10-man Hartlepool
WREXHAM ........................... 1 HARTLEPOOL ...................... 0
WREXHAM got back to winning ways as Luke Young gave them victory over 10-man Hartlepool.
Young opened the scoring with a superb long-range strike in the 20th minute.
It proved to be the only goal of the game despite Hartlepool seeing captain Andrew Davies sent off in the first half.
Davies was rightly given his marching orders for violent conduct and in the end it meant his team were unable to muster a comeback.
Sam Ricketts’ side had dropped two points at Chesterfield by conceding a last-gasp equaliser after dropping far too deep in defence on a blustery afternoon.
As they looked to make amends on their return to home soil, Wrexham had to deal with a strong Hartlepool start on a bitterly cold night at The Racecourse.
It was the hosts, though, who had the better early chances. Kevin Roberts pulled the ball back and Rekeil Pyke fired wide. Paddy McLaughlin was then the first man in the book for Hartlepool.
He had fouled Kevin Roberts before, minutes later, Young fired in on goal. His shot was saved, but Jordan Maguire-Drew headed the rebound over from 10 yards. He should have done better.
At the other end Wrexham goalkeeper Rob Lainton saved from Hartlepool striker Marcus Dinanga. Hartlepool’s high pressing game was limiting Wrexham’s attack, but on the first occasion they bypassed the opponents, Ricketts’ side took the lead in fine fashion.
With gaps opening up in front of him, Young drove into space and he smashed the ball between Scott Loach’s legs. Shaun Pearson then went close to making it 2-0 only to see his header go just wide. Hartlepool then lost captain Davies before the break. From a long ball, Stuart Beavon fouled Davies who then inexplicably headbutted him. Referee Martin Woods, unsurprisingly, showed him red. Beavon was also booked, but Wrexham turned around a goal and a man up.
Hartlepool switched to three at the back for the second half and Wrexham’s Akil Wright was lucky to escape an early yellow card on the game’s resumption.
Jake Lawlor then put a corner narrowly wide before Beavon was forced off with an apparent facial injury to be replaced by Mike Fondop.
Liam Noble tried his luck for Hartlepool and although they were a man light, the visitors wouldn’t go away and went for broke in search of an equaliser.
Fondop was isolated on the break and Paul Rutherford was introduced by Ricketts to shore up the game. It proved enough as Wrexham hung on in six minutes of added time, but it should have been more comfortable.