QUIGLEY’S ACE BRACE BUT SHOTS FIRE BACK
Dragons’ promotion hopes hit
VERDICT: Wrexham rode their luck against an impressive Aldershot side who somehow twice found themselves trailing, but hit back to deservedly take a share of the spoils
AFOURTH successive draw did little for Wrexham’s dwindling hopes of automatic promotion, but they remain in contention for the play-offs following an actionpacked four-goal thriller against rivals Aldershot Town.
On-loan Blackpool striker Scott Quigley twice put the Dragons in front, taking his tally to six goals in seven outings, but the Shots, who saw two players injured in the prematch warm-up, were easily the most impressive visitors to the Racecourse this season.
And their manager Gary Waddock was disappointed not to be leaving with all three points.
“We were away from home, we had two lads injured during the warm-up and had to change our team selection ten minutes before kick-off,” he told The NLP.
“So to play like that and create the chances we created I personally think we should have come away with the win.
“We conceded two disappointing goals but we should have taken our chances.
“We dominated the game in terms of possession and the chances we created but we might have gone in 1-0 down at the break and that would have been unbelievable.
Having netted just two points from three games in the last eight days, Waddock added: “It’s been a very disappointing week, there’s no getting away from that, but today’s performance shows the lads are still confident so we’ll just keep going.
“We’ll try and get as many points as we can and see where we are at the end of the season.”
Wrexham boss Dean Keates felt his side should have claimed the points. “For me Aldershot are the best footballing side in the division,” he said. “But we’re disappointed with the goals we've conceded. We’ve twice been in the lead.”
Shots’ goalkeeper Lewis Ward and midfielder Jake Kellerman were the late withdrawals so Jake Cole and Jake Gallagher stepped up from a bench reduced to just three remaining substitutes.
Nonetheless the visitors were on top from the start and forced the Dragons to concede a series of corners before Chris Dunn saved bravely at the feet of Scott Rendell.
Will Evans went close with a fine header that was cleared off the line by Sam Wedgbury and when Wrexham mounted their first attack they snatched the lead through Quigley who chested in a Jonathan Franks corner.
Aldershot continued to boss both territory and possession, although their final ball was too often missing, and when Shamir Fenelon did have a decent sight of goal he volleyed well wide of the target. But the 23-year-old striker atoned for that miss, rifling home a first-time shot in the 42nd minute to ensure his side deservedly went into the break on level terms.
Wrexham, though, restored their lead on 58 minutes after Quigley latched on to Holroyd’s header and slotted the ball past Cole.
With 15 minutes left Dunn was beaten by a Callum Reynolds touch from James Rowe’s corner, but Wrexham had two late chances to snatch victory, Quigley and Jonathan Franks shooting wide. STAR MAN: Scott Quigley (Wrexham) ATT: 4,662 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Thomas Bramall 7/10.