Wrexham's inability to get results against teams at the lower end of the table continued into the New Year as Accrington Stanley picked up only their second away win of the season and completed the double over the Red Dragons in a scrappy game on a heavy Racecourse pitch.
The Racecourse pitch had soaked up a lot of heavy rain over the past few days and soon cut up in the pre match warm up as more rain fell. Denis Smith made three changes from the side that performed well at Hereford but travelled back pointless.
Steve Evans passed a late fitness test and returned after his four match ban, Ryan Valentine returned from illness and Darren Ferguson was restored to the starting eleven after being rested to the bench. Wrexham kicked off attacking the Tech end of the ground.
A first minute free kick for Wrexham given for a foul on Johnson was taken by Ferguson and cleared by the Stanley defence. A good ball from Williams released Llewellyn but Elliott was quickly off his line to clear. Wrexham started brightly and pushed the visitors back.
On three minutes Accrington earned the game's first corner, which was well defended at the expense of another corner. This time the ball was cleared but immediately crossed back in for Welch to head down into the ground and over the bar from close range.
The heavy rain continued to fall and one or two of the players were struggling to keep their footing, Josh Johnson did well to recover his before floating a dangerous cross which just cleared the far post. Matt Crowell was booked on 13 minutes for a foul on Proctor; the resultant free kick was headed wide of the Wrexham goal.
Steve Evans did well to cut out a dangerous Todd cross on 15 minutes, Wrexham broke away and Llewellyn screwed his shot wide. On 17 minutes Whalley crossed, Steve Evans headed on to his own bar and with Ingham nowhere two Accrington players were on hand and Paul Mullin put the ball in to the empty net.
Two minutes later a Whalley free kick eluded all the Wrexham defenders and Andy Todd arrived at the far post, good defending by Valentine conceded a corner which was headed wide by Welch. Wrexham were looking disorganised at the back and Ingham had to come off his line to save at the feet of Brown.
The visitors were controlling the midfield with Proctor and Harris bossing things as the pitch cut up badly. The crowd started to show their frustration with their side as the Red Dragons struggled to put two passes together. Accrington were using the width of the pitch well with their wide men Todd and Whalley seeing a lot of the ball, but on the whole it was very scrappy.
On 29 minutes Wrexham earned their first corner, Ferguson crossed left footed but it was an easy catch for Elliott. A minute later Jay Harris was booked by Premiership referee Mike Dean for a late tackle on Lee Roche. Ryan Valentine was the third booking for a foul on Jay Harris on 35 minutes.
On 37 minutes Whalley took a free kick on the edge of the area, he drove it in fiercely but the ball was deflected over the bar for a goal kick. A minute later Wrexham had a free kick themselves on 25 yards, Crowell chipped in a good effort which had Elliott scrambling but it just cleared the Accrington bar. Wrexham put together a spell of pressure as half time approached culminating in Llewellyn beating the offside trap and shooting across the goalkeeper but just wide of the post.
On 44 minutes Josh Johnson broke clear straight from Ingham's long kick which eluded the head of Robbie Williams, the Trinidad and Tobagan finished well slotting the ball coolly past Elliott with his left foot for his first Wrexham goal. There were three added minutes at the end of the half but no further significant action.
Second Half
Lee McEvilly started the second half replacing Marc Williams. A lively opening to the half as both sides looked to set their wide men free, Johnson being stopped by Richardson and Whalley by Valentine. Wrexham won a corner on 48 minutes, swung in by Ferguson, Pejic won the header but it ran wide of the target.
McEvilly's introduction certainly added a more physical presence and gave Wrexham more power up front.
On 53 minutes Steve Evans was booked for a foul on the edge of the area on Whalley, John Coleman, the Accrington manager, appealed for the card to be red but as Ryan Valentine was covering Mr Dean decided yellow was the right colour. Whalley wasted the free kick. Seconds later Ingham was caught out at the edge of the area, Whalley rounded him and crossed to Mullin but some good defending by Evans cleared the danger.
The second half action was certainly more entertaining than the first but the game was still very scrappy. Accrington had a corner on the hour, Ingham ineffectively punched clear and as the ball was driven back in Valentine deflected it but Ingham caught it diving to his right.
On 64 minutes a long cross into the area by Todd caught Pejic napping and Mullin nipped in but shot wide of the goal. A minute later McEvilly challenged Elliott and Williams, the two Accrington players collided and McEvilly ran the ball into the empty net. Mr Dean disallowed the goal for a push by McEvilly to the fury of the home fans.
On 70 minutes a Crowell freekick was headed goalwards by Evans and Shaun Pejic with his back to goal flicked it just over the bar. The action was end to end and Ingham did well to cut out a Whalley cross at full stretch, Wrexham bounced back and Done had a shot blocked.
On 73 minutes a mistake by Pejic allowed the ball to run to Mullin whose shot was saved by Ingham. Chris Llewellyn earned a corner with a mazy run, it was cleared and Accrington broke away again but could not create anything on this occasion.
With 15 minutes left McEvilly got away down the left after a good pass by Evans, seeing Elliott off his line it looked like he tried to chip the keeper but it was miss hit and turned into an easy save.
Denis Smith made a double change with Mike Williams and Kevin Smith replacing Done and Ferguson on 78 minutes. A minute later there was some controversy as Kevin Smith was pulled down when clear by Robbie Williams; Mike Dean decided no foul, probably the only person in the ground not to see it as such to the disappointment of the Wrexham players and supporters.
Mike Ingham made a good save seconds later after a slip by the Reds defence whilst at the other end McEvilly's shot was blocked by some brave defending by Welch.
The game turned in a frantic two minute spell as with 82 minutes gone David Brown broke clear from a long clearance and as Ingham came to meet him he coolly lobbed the keeper to give Accrington the lead. McEvilly responded with a fierce right foot shot parried by Elliott.
Two minutes later a penalty was awarded to Accrington for a trip on Whalley by Lee Roche, who was booked. The penalty was saved by Ingham but David Brown fired the rebound into the net to put the visitors 3-1 ahead and leave Wrexham staring at defeat.
Kevin Smith went close with three minutes left firing wide with his left foot. A minute later good work by McEvilly released Llewellyn who fired wide from 18 yards, Wrexham piled on the pressure but Accrington held strong at the back.
Three added minutes were signalled by the fourth official but despite the home side's efforts the game finished in defeat to the displeasure of the home fans.
Wrexham: Michael Ingham, Lee Roche, Steve Evans, Shaun Pejic, Ryan Valentine, Josh Johnson, Matt Crowell, Darren Ferguson (Mike Williams 78), Matty Done (Kevin Smith 78), Chris Llewellyn, Marc Williams (Lee McEvilly 46).
Subs: Michael Jones, Gaz Evans.
Accrington: Rob Elliott, Ricky Baines, Robbie Williams, Michael Welch, Liam Richardson, Andy Todd, Andy Proctor, Jay Harris, Sean Whalley, Paul Mullin, David Brown.
Subs: Martin Fearon, Andy Smith, James Bell, Peter Murphy, Joe Jacobson.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Attendance: 3,805
Away: 161
Bookings -
Wrexham: Matt Crowell (foul), Ryan Valentine (foul) Steve Evans (foul), Lee Roche (foul)
Accrington Stanley: Jay Harris (foul)
STAT ATTACK
4
4
4
6
16
9
5
8
3
1
0
0
REFEREE: M Dean
