Wrexham are sent packing by second-half comeback

WREXHAM exited the Emirates FA Cup at the first-round stage after two second-half Harrogate goals cancelled out Jordan Ponticelli’s opener.

Ponticelli tapped home after an acrobatic attempt from James Jones to give the visiting Reds the lead after 38 minutes, but second-half goals from Simon Power and Dani Orsi saw the EFL side through.

Phil Parkinson made a number of changes from last weekend’s draw with Torquay, with Cameron Green starting for the first time this season and Luke Young also named in the XI.

Reece Hall-Johnson also had a place on the bench having been out since the opening day of the season.

The first chance of the game fell to Wrexham as Jordan Davies fired a strong low drive wide after just four minutes. The home side’s first chance of note came 11 minutes later when Aaron Martin headed over.

The opening half-hour didn’t see either goalkeeper tested, with another Davies effort from range looping wide .

The biggest reaction from the crowd came when Shaun Brisley and Martin had a skirmish in the middle of the park following a foul by the Harrogate forward.

After 38 minutes, Wrexham won a corner, Davies swung it in and Jones’ bicycle kick found Ponticelli at the far stick who prodded home to swing the advantage Wrexham’s way.

The second half saw Wrexham begin brightly with Tyler French and Liam McAlinden having sights of goal, but unable to convert.

Harrogate found themselves coming back into it more and more as the half went on and eventually levelled on 73 minutes via a setpiece routine on the edge of the box from Power.

Moments later, a calamity at the back left Rob Lainton in no-man’s land and Orsi was able to finish into an empty net.

Wrexham pushed for their own equaliser, with goalkeeper Lainton up in the final few moments and Young having a volley blocked by a defender in stoppage time.

The Dragons are now back in National League action with a trip tomorrow to face Aldershot (7.45pm).