Wrexham have only scored six goals at home this season and a missed penalty by Ryan Valentine added to their woes as they were beaten by Stockport County in a much improved performance.With the Red Dragons desperate for a win to revive their flagging fortunes Brian Little made three changes from the side beaten here by Rochdale on Boxing Day. Reverting to a 3-5-2 formation Shaun Pejic and Mike Williams returned to the starting eleven in defence and Wes Baynes recovered from illness to take his place in the side. Ryan Valentine was given the holding role in midfield.
On a very wet and windy day in North Wales Stockport kicked off attacking the Kop end of the ground. A bright opening from Wrexham saw Sam Aiston win an early free kick, Michael Proctor drove it into the wall however and it was cleared.
A heavy pitch which quickly cut up and a strong wind made conditions difficult for good football and several early passes went astray as both sides tried to gain a foothold in the match. Aiston and Chris Llewellyn both made strong runs from midfield but couldn't find the final pass as Wrexham looked to take the game to the visitors. Wrexham won a corner on 11 minutes, Baynes swung it in but Stockport defended it well.
On 13 minutes the battling Neil Roberts won the ball and set up Chris Llewellyn for a fierce left foot shot just over the bar. Wrexham playing into the strong wind seemed to have adapted to the conditions better than Stockport and were certainly on top territorially in the first quarter of an hour.
As the half progressed the play became scrappier and most of the action was in the middle third. Neil Taylor was the first player booked for a foul on Poole on 27 minutes. On the half hour mark Stockport won a couple of corners and from the second David Poole fired an effort into the Kop from 15 yards out. The visitors were certainly passing the ball well and were getting on top at this stage of the half.
The Wrexham fans appreciating the improvement in the performance did what they could to raise the players efforts and cries of "Brian Little's Red and White army" came from both sides of the ground. Chris Llewellyn joined Taylor in the referee's notebook for a foul on 37 minutes.
With two minutes of the first half left Wes Baynes free kick led to a goalmouth scramble, the ball fell to Sam Aiston 10 yards out but he fluffed his effort and it ran harmlessly through to Logan. The two minutes added time passed without further incident and this had certainly been an improvement from Wrexham.
Second Half
Stockport made two changes at the break bringing on Anthony Elding and Adam Griffin but it was Wrexham who so nearly took the lead in the first minute of the half when Neil Roberts met a Michael Proctor cross but headed it straight at Logan from 8 yards out. A bad miss by the Wrexham skipper.
The Reds pushed forward and won a corner which was wasted. Stockport retaliated with a corner of their own as both sides settled into the second period with half chances at either end.
On 55 minutes a good break by Pilkington, his cross was spectacularly played back in by Griffin to Dickinson who blasted the ball way over the bar from a good position. The reprieve was only temporary however as substitute Anthony Elding fired a low shot passed Anthony Williams on 58 minutes to give Stockport the lead.
Wrexham brought Mike Carvill on to replace Michael Proctor on 63 minutes. The Red's responded well to going behind and as torrential rain fell on The Racecourse Neil Roberts won a free kick which Neil Taylor crossed and Steve Evans glanced just wide of the Stockport goal.
With 70 minutes gone Marc Williams replaced Neil Roberts and joined Carvill up front. Wrexham continued to push forward looking for the equaliser and were awarded a penalty by a sharp eyed assistant when a Ryan Valentine shot was blocked and Marc Williams tried to go passed a Stockport defender who handled. Ryan Valentine stepped up and fired a low effort which Conrad Logan diving to his left saved.
At the other end Wes Baynes cleared a shot off the line as Wrexham struggled to clear a corner on 77 minutes. It was an end to end game now as Wrexham threw caution to the wind and pressed Stockport back. Steve Evans was sent up front with 5 minutes left.
Adam Griffin was booked for a foul on Sam Aiston which started another spell of Wrexham pressure consisting of a corner and a good save by Logan, fisting clear a good Valentine cross.
In the three added minutes Dickinson went close to increasing the lead, going around Anthony Williams but being denied by a good tackle by Neil Taylor. The Wrexham players kept pressing until the final whistle but their lack of composure in front of goal cost them dear.
Wrexham (3-5-2): Anthony Williams, Steve Evans, Shaun Pejic, Mike Williams, Wes Baynes, Chris Llewellyn, Ryan Valentine, Sam Aiston, Neil Taylor, Neil Roberts (Marc Williams 70), Michael Proctor (Mike Carvill 63)
Subs: Michael Jones, Gareth Evans, Mark Jones,
Stockport County (4-4-2): Conrad Logan, Jason Taylor, Michael Raynes, Gareth Owen, Michael Rose, David Poole(Adam Griffin 46), Paul Turnbull, Gary Dicker, Anthony Pilkington, Liam Dickinson, Adam Proudlock (Anthony Elding 46)
Subs: Greg Tansey, James Tunicliffe, Paul Tierney
Referee: Richard Beeby
Attendance: 4,287
Away: 995
Bookings -
Wrexham: Neil Taylor (foul), Chris Llewellyn (foul)
Stockport County: Adam Griffin (foul)
