Wrexham fell to their second home defeat of the week and into the relegation places following a niggly match that continually threatened to boil over and eventually saw six bookings - as well as Wycombe goalkeeper Ricardo Batista sent off for appearing to kick the ball at a section of Wrexham supporters.

It was a bright and sunny day at The Racecourse for the visit of play-off contenders Wycombe Wanderers. Manager Brian Carey made two changes from the side which unluckily lost at home to Stockport on Tuesday night with Steve Evans returning after injury and Cherno Samba starting for the first time. Matty Done and Lee McEvilly dropped to the bench.

Wrexham kicked off attacking the Tech End of the ground and started brightly with a good tempo to their play. On four minutes the assistant in front of the Mold Road Stand alerted referee Oliver to the fact that Wrex the Dragon was confusing him and Wrex had to move to the amusement of the home supporters!

Despite the early endeavours of both sides the opening period was devoid of goalscoring opportunities but on 10 minutes Marc Williams won the game's first corner. Samba took it and a powerful Evans header was cleared back to the striker, whose cross appeared to hit a Wycombe arm but the referee waived away the penalty appeal. Doherty and Danny Williams were involved in a spat soon after but referee Oliver let them both of with a talking to.

Ryan Valentine was needlessly booked on 14 minutes for kicking the ball away after a free kick was given against him. The free kick resulted in a header from Grant easily held by Ingham.

One or two niggles were starting to creep into a combative midfield where most of the action was concentrated and Stockley was booked for a terrible tackle on Cherno Samba.

The game was broken up by numerous fouls and on 22 minutes a freekick taken just outside the centre circle was played into the Wrexham area and Mike Williamson headed the ball over a stranded Mike Ingham into the Wrexham net, surely a poor decision by the goalkeeper who was caught in no mans land.

Two minutes later a good run by Grant set up Jermaine Easter who fortunately made a poor contact and Ingham saved it. Wrexham almost conceded again when a back pass from Shaun Pejic left Mike Ingham in trouble; his clearance hit Bloomfield but fortunately ran to safety.

Wrexham were showing little in the way of an attacking force and created no goalscoring chances in the first half hour. They earned a corner though on 34 minutes taken by Samba it was cleared.

Two minutes later a Samba free kick was harmlessly headed wide by Pejic as Wrexham struggled to mount any meaningful pressure on the Wycombe goal, whilst at the other end the lively Easter set up Grant who shot wide. On 41 minutes some sloppy defending by Samba let Grant in, he set up Easter who fired wide from a good position.

With two minutes left in the first half Chris Llewellyn won a header and the ball fell to Marc Williams who volleyed wide of the target. Mike Ingham won an ironic cheer for catching a free kick similar to the won Wycombe scored from earlier. Lee Roche went into the book for a poor challenge on Bloomfield.

Second Half

Lee McEvilly was brought on at the start of the second half for Marc Williams. Cherno Samba switched to the right flank with Chris Llewellyn coming wide left as Wrexham went to a 4-3-3 formation.

The first real action of the half came on 50 minutes when Chris Llewellyn forced Batista into a diving save with a 25 yard right foot shot. On 51 minutes Jermaine Easter was left completely unmarked eight yards out and fired a fierce right foot shot high into the Wrexham net to put the visitors 2-0 up. Questions again must be asked about the Wrexham defending.

Brian Carey responded by putting Matty Done on with 53 minutes gone, Samba making way for him. Chris Llewellyn now switched to the right allowing Matty Done his usual left wing berth.

The crowd was getting more and more frustrated as Wrexham made a number of unforced errors allowing Wycombe to put pressure on with a good spell including several corners. Scott Golbourne hit the post on 58 minutes with a left foot shot; again he was not challenged in the area.

An ugly brawl ensued on 59 minutes after a two footed tackle by Chris Llewellyn, referee Oliver calmed things down and booked the Welsh international. Lee McEvilly and Anthony Grant were booked for their part in the afters.

It took a while for the referee to sort things out, and then Ricardo Batista inexplicably kicked the ball at a spectator in the Mold Road Stand as tempers boiled over again, he was shown the red card and left the pitch to a crescendo of boos. Substitute goalkeeper Jamie Young replaced Jermaine Easter, who was sacrificed by manager Paul Lambert.

As the game restarted Lee McEvilly put a header on target saved by Young and Jamie Reed replaced Paul Mitchell after 67 minutes. Danny Williams shot well wide on 71 minutes as Wrexham tried to take advantage of the extra man. McEvilly then fired wide as Wrexham played with four up front. With Wycombe only having Mooney up front it was very much a game of attack and defence. Jamie Reed fired in another long range effort fielded by Young.

Wycombe replaced the hard working Mooney with Scott McGleish on 76 minutes. A Lee Roche shot was deflected up into the air and Young dropped it under pressure from Pejic but fell on it at the second attempt. The prolific McGleish had a half chance on 79 minutes but fired over under pressure from Shaun Pejic.

Chris Llewellyn volleyed over on 80 minutes but Wrexham were still being restricted to long range efforts by the well organised Wycombe defence. The game had certainly opened up with the sending off and subsequent substitutions and the final substitution of the game saw Sergio Torres replace Anthony Grant on 83 minutes.

There were six added minutes at the end of the half as Ryan Valentine took a quick free kick to Danny Williams who unfortunately screwed a left foot shot well wide of the goal. Matty Done broke clear down the left and crossed to McEvilly whose control was not good enough and Young was able to fall on the ball under challenge from the Wrexham striker. Despite their endeavours Wrexham could not score and lost their second home game in a week.

Wrexham (4-4-2): Michael Ingham, Lee Roche, Shaun Pejic, Steve Evans, Ryan Valentine, Robbie Garrett, Paul Mitchell (Jamie Reed 67), Danny Williams, Cherno Samba (Matty Done 53), Marc Williams (Lee McEvilly 45), Chris Llewellyn.
Subs: Mike Williams, Michael Jones.

Wycombe Wanderers (4-4-2): Ricardo Batista, Russell Martin, Mike Williamson, Sam Stockley, Scott Golbourne, Matt Bloomfield, Anthony Grant (Sergio Torres 83), Tommy Doherty, Stefan Oakes, Tommy Mooney (Scott McGleish 76), Jermaine Easter (Jamie Young 65).
Subs: Leon Crooks, Tony McParland.

Referee: Clive Oliver (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 3,607
Away: 141

Bookings -
Wrexham: Ryan Valentine (dissent), Lee Roche (foul), Chris Llewellyn (foul), Lee McEvilly (violent conduct)
Wycombe: Sam Stockley (foul), Anthony Grant (violent conduct)

Sent Off -
Wycombe: Ricardo Batista (kicking the ball at a spectator!)

STAT ATTACK
2	Shots On Target	3
9	Shots Off Target	7
20	Fouls (Conceded)	17
2	Corners	3
4	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	1
REFEREE: C Oliver