Keeper holds off Wrexham

VISITING goalkeeper George Wickens’ first-half heroics proved to be the difference as Wrexham were held to a goalless draw in front of a bumper crowd at the Racecourse.

Phil Parkinson made one change from last weekend’s side that ran riot at Kings Lynn, as Rob Lainton returned to the starting line-up, and Jake Hyde came back into the matchday squad.

It’s the first time the Red Dragons have failed to score so far this season as they extended their unbeaten run at home.

Wickens made three outstanding saves on the half-hour mark, ultimately denying Wrexham three straight wins in the league for the first time this season.

The first of his saves came from a bullet header from Aaron Hayden, which forced the Stones stopper into a point-blank stop.

The second and third came from a Ben Tozer header which was tipped over and a well-struck shot from first-team captain Luke Young was parried wide.

The first chance of the game fell to the hosts, as Paul Mullin’s glancing header was cleared off the line from Tozer’s surging long-throw inside the opening exchanges.

Rhys Browne had the first chance to open the scoring for the visitors, as his curled shot was saved comfortably by Lainton.

The Stones thought they’d opened the scoring as Umerah’s chipped shot was saved by Lainton and Browne headed home from an offside position to deny them the lead.

Browne had a golden opportunity to send the visitors ahead 20 minutes from time, as his header was just miscued, and landed just wide with Lainton rooted to the floor.

A well-crafted move by the reunited Mullin and Jake Hyde brought the Reds close in the 79th minute, but Mullin’s flashed cross was just out of the reach of substitute Hyde.

The final chance of the game fell to top scorer Mullin, but he couldn’t get the connection he wanted on his strike which rose well over the bar.