DRAGONS FIRE UP PLAY-OFF HOPES!
Keates’ side are back in groove
WREXHAM moved up to fifth in the table and increased their play-off hopes with victory over Woking in the Surrey sunshine.
Three second-half goals, including two deep into stoppage time, ensured the Welsh outfit maintained their play-off prospects against a Woking side decimated by injuries.
The Dragons created the initial chances in the opening exchanges with Reece Hall-Johnson firing over before a corner from Luke Young was heading towards the corner of the net, but there was Max Kretzschmar on hand to clear off the line.
Moments later Craig Ross proved once again why he is so highly rated by producing a superb save at full stretch to deny Jamie Reckord as the Welsh side dominated proceedings. Woking were struggling to get a foothold into the game until Charlie Cooper tested the palms of Wrexham’s Christian Dibble.
The hosts felt they had good claims for a penalty when Zach Robinson appeared to be tripped in the box, but referee David Richardson deemed no contact had been made.
“It was a stonewall penalty,” claimed Woking boss Alan Dowson. “At that point we were in the game.”
The deadlock was broken in the 37th minute when Richardson awarded a spotkick for the visitors when Ben Gerring clipped the lively Jordan Davies. Young planted the penalty kick straight down the middle.
Wrexham doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when a deep cross from Reckord found Hall-Johnson, with his effort going in off the post.
Woking tried to get into the game and came close when good work from Kane Ferdinand held the ball up nicely for Kretzschmar to have a pop from distance with his shot narrowly wide.
The visitors – who hit four against Halifax during the week– repeated their feat with two late goals to seal a comfortable win. Substitute Chris Sang played in Gold Omotayo who finished calmly and with the last kick of the game Davies steered the ball into the bottom corner of the net for his fourth goal in the last five days to wrap up victory as Woking conceded four goals at home for the third game in a row.
A disappointed Dowson reflected on a difficult afternoon for the Cards and more injury concerns for the club. “I think Max [Kretzschmar] has got a metatarsal injury, he has got to have an x ray now. Zach had to come off and I think we caved in the last couple of minutes.
“Second half that is why they are in the top seven and we are not. You just have to take it on the chin.”
Wrexham gaffer Dean Keates said: “I spoke to the guys at half time and we got back to basics and got what we deserved. I thought 4-0 was a fair reflection.”
Luke Young (Wrexham)