Monday, September 10, 2006
Pontin's Holidays League
Wrexham 1 v 3 Burnley

Goals -
0-1 Akinbiyi (5)
1-1 OG (51)
1-2 Elliott (68)
1-3 O'Connor (87)

When the teamsheet arrived from Burnley in mid afternoon, there were a few looks of amazement at just how strong a line-up the Clarets were going to field, which included a bench we would haven been delighted to have.

A quick calculation showed an aggregate of over 3,850 league games and 360 league goals, which is quite daunting - not to mention a career total of over £38m in transfer fees - with Burnley having shelled out something like £1.5m to gather together the squad on display.

Just to make matters worse, Michael Jones was stuck in a traffic jam on the M56 coming down from Liverpool, with no sub keeper available, due to Chris Maxwell being away with the Wales U19s and Vinny Whelan out on loan to Caernarfon Town, but happily Carrots managed to make it to the ground about 20 minutes before kick-off.

0-1 Ade Akinbiyi latched onto a cross from Jon Harley and was unchallenged as he headed home after just five minutes.

1-1 After Josh Johnson had been fouled on the left wing after 51 minutes, Matty Crowell whipped in a free kick that turned the visiting defence and from just a few yards out Neil Unsworth fired the ball passed his own keeper when trying to clear.

1-2 Former Bournemouth winger Wade Elliott set off on a dangerous run on 68 minutes and after receiving a return pass, fired in an unstoppable shot which flew into the Wrexham net.

1-3 With just three minutes to go the scoreline got a little one-sided as substitute Robbie Blake drove to the goal line before pulling the ball back into the path of midfielder James O'Connor and the former Stoke man could hardly miss with a diving header into an empty net.

Marc Williams was forced out of the game in the first half with bruised ribs, while Gareth Evans seemed to be suffering from cramp late in the game. Levi's substitution at the interval was probably more to do with the yellow card he received moments before the half time whistle went.

When your opponents can bring on Robbie Blake for Andy Gray against a side that finishes with four scholars, then maybe a 3-1 defeat is not the worst result in the world!

Although coach Joey Jones was still far from happy with the display of some of his players:

"I have read a number of comments from players that they are near to being in the first team, well on tonight's display they may want to reconsider their position - I don't know who they are kidding most.

"Gareth Evans did very well, as did Marc Williams, until he got injured, but there are others who need to do a great deal more."

Wrexham: Michael Jones, Wes Baynes, Chris Marriott, Mike Evans, Gareth Evans (Lee Jones 79), Silvio Spann, Matt Crowell, Levi Mackin (Paul Williams 46), Juan Ugarte, Marc Williams (Mark Stewart 33), Josh Johnson.
Subs: Tom Matischok, Jamie Price.

Burnley: Gabor Kiraly, John Spicer, Jon Hartley, Chris McCann (Stephen Jordan 46), David Unsworth, Steven Caldwell (Clarke Carlisle 46), James O'Connor, Alan Mahon, Ade Akinbiyi, Andy Gray (Robbie Blake 46), Wade Elliott.
Subs: Brian Jenson, Jay Rodriquez.

Referee: S Cummins (Cheshire)
Attendance: 190
Away: 6

Full match commentary - only on Wrexham World.