The moment that our chances went out the window...
Pictures from Dave Howarth / Sportpixs
Attention has to be centred on referee Keith Hill and not only his decision to award a controversial penalty for what he saw as handball by Lee Roche, but then to dismiss the full back for a second yellow and so change the whole game!
Both teams enjoyed chances in the opening few minutes, with Dons almost benefiting from some hesitancy in the visitors' defence which allowed Izale McLeod to pick the ball up in the edge of our box before Michael Ingham raced from his line to make a good save.
At the other end it was a build up of pressure which ended with the ball crossing the home six-yard box twice in quick succession with no one quite capable of applying a decisive touch.
Not afraid to get forward when they could, Simon Spender found space on the right wing to loft a high cross into the middle for Lee McEvilly to chase, but the bouncing ball carried through to keeper Lee Harper before the striker could get a sight of it.
With the wind and sun at their backs, Wrexham took the lead on 11 minutes through Lee McEvilly as the Reds beat the offside when Neil Roberts took a ball down the right channel. He latched onto a high pass and didn't wait as the home defence looked for an offside flag, the striker drew Harper to him and rather han try and beat the advancing keeper, slipped a pass to his left for McEvilly to slide the ball into an empty net.
A goal to the good, the Reds swarmed forward with first Mark Jones unlucky from distance, then McEvilly found too many defenders around him to turn six-yards out and Garrett fired over after a run from the halfway line.
A yellow card to Lee Roche on 16 minutes saw the defender reach 10 cautions for the season and will mean a two match ban starting next week! It seemed a very minor offence as he was shoulder-to-shoulder with McLeod.
There were complaints when the linesman gave a corner to Wrexham as a defender shielded the ball out of play and from the flag kick Mike Williams made contact with his head, but there was not enough on the ball to worry the home keeper.
Lee McEvilly scores our goal
Spends won another corner on 22 minutes following a determined run, although the Dons were able to clear that easily enough.
The Dons always looked dangerous when they had the ball, but there was a certain amount of frustration in their play as the minutes rolled by. From a half clearance on 29 minutes, Jon-Paul McGovern fired the ball forward and the giant figure Clive Platt diverted its path with a flick header, but it was still going wide and Ingham watched it sail passed his right hand post.
MK won a free kick 25-yards out when Danny Williams fouled Platt and when the high ball was played to Keith Andrews round the back of the defence his cros was hacked clear by Danny.
The Dons can thank referee Keith Hill for getting them back on level terms after on 36 minutes, when he awarded them a controversial penalty for handball. The Reds had three times cleared the ball and as Roche closed down a shot from just outside the box, Mr Hill decided it was a case of deliberate handball and pointed to the spot - to the amazement of nearly everybody in the ground!
To make matters worse, there were further yellow cards to Roche for the handball (!) and Garrett as he argued the point - meaning a sending off for Roche and another ban for the Reds.
Keith Andrews finally stepped up to take the spot kick and hit low into the corner to give Ingham no chance.
Needless to say Mr Hill had a 'warm welcome' as he left the pitch at half time, with Brian Carey, not unnaturally in the circumstances, expressing his opinions to the man in black.
The second half was only a few second old when Ingham touched a hight ball onto his crossbar and as it dropped for McLeod to tap home from close range, the linesman raised his flag to cut short the home celebrations.
With the wind at their back Dyer chased a long ball into the Wrexham box before going to ground as Ingham challenged him, with loud appeals for a penalty the referee ran across and booked the Dons player fro diving.
A corner to MK saw McGovern fired his cross out towards the middle of the park where the arriving Dean Lewington rattled in a low shot that was only yard wide of Ingham's post.
It was backs to the wall time for the Reds as the Dons used their extra man to good advantage, hitting a variety of crosses and shots into the danger zone.
Simon pulls on the green jersey
The Reds had re-organised by dropping Spender to full back, switching Mark Jones to the right and bringing McEvilly into left midfield, the role he filled so well against Bury a week earlier.
Just after the hour mark, the travel weary Garrett, who had given his all, was substituted by Levi Mackin as the boss introduced a fresh pair of legs into a midfield which was getting over run.
The Dons played another deep corner on 67 minutes, this time Gary Smith was the target 25-yards out and his first time effort crashed against the Wrexham woodwork with Ingham stranded. Fortunately the rebound was kind to us and the danger was cleared.
Martin Allen made a double change on 75 minutes, which inlcude the introduction of Wrexham fans' favourite Leon Knight, Gareth Evans also made an appearance for Danny Williams, who was once again holding his back.
With Jude Sirling then coming on for Edds, just re-enforced the home side's desire to collect all three points on offer.
Ingham needed treatment after colliding with McLeod with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining and needed Mel's magic hands to get him back on his feet.
On 85 minutes the dam was finally breeched, when a header back across the face of the goal from the gaint Clive Platt hit the far post and although Ingham scooped it away the linesman said it had crossed the line to push Dons in front for the first time. This decision came from the official who would have needed a very good view to see passed the diving keeper, who had his body in the way.
With five minutes of added time indicated, Wrexham were down to 9-men for the second game running as goalkeeper Ingham limped to the sidelines and having used our three subs Simon Spender had to takeover the green jersey.
MK Dons: Lee Harper, Gareth Edds (Jude Stirling 80), Drissa Diallo, Sean O'Hanlon, Dean Lewington (Leon Knight 75), Jon-Paul McGovern (John Hayes 75), Gary Smith, Keith Andrews, Lloyd Dyer, Clive Platt, Izale McLeod.
Subs: Adolfo Baines, Sam Collins.
Wrexham: Michael Ingham, Lee Roche, Shaun Pejic, Danny Williams (Gareth Evans 76), Mike Williams, Simon Spender, Robbie Garrett (Levi Mackin 63), Jeff Whitley, Mark Jones (Josh Johnson 87), Lee McEvilly, Neil Roberts.
Subs: Michael Jones, Matty Done.
Referee: Keith Hill (Herts)
Attendance: 5,712
Away: 300ish
Bookings -
MK Dons: Dyer (51, diving)
Wrexham: Roche (16, foul), Garrett (35, dissent), McEvilly (40, foul)
Sent off -
Wrexham: Roche 35 (second yellow)
.
| STAT ATTACK | ||
| 7 |
Shots On Target |
3 |
| 8 |
Shots Off Target |
3 |
| 11 |
Fouls (Conceded) |
19 |
| 5 |
Corners |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
1 |
| REFEREE: K Hill | ||
