Sutton 1 - 2 Wrexham: Skid Snapped! Wrexham Head Home with Three Much-Needed Points
Goals from an unlikely returnee and a squad stalwart lift Wrexham on the road.
The Wrecap:
Sutton United X - X Wrexham AFC
There was no ignoring the lineup when it was posted before the match, first because it confirmed everyone’s favorite black kits were returning, and second because Phil made four big changes for today’s duel with Sutton United. We’ll start with the biggest: Mullin was benched to give Jack Marriott his first Wrexham start. He played alongside Fletcher in front of an unchanged midfield: Cannon, Evans, and Lee. At the back, Bolton received his first Wrexham start at right wingback opposite McClean, while Will Boyle and Max Cleworth returned to the starting XI along with O’Connell. As expected, Okonkwo did the keeping today. On the bench next to Super Paul Mullin were Palmer, Young, Mendy, Barnett, Tunnicliffe, and Howard.
There were rumblings that Marriott would get the nod over Mullin today, but I didn’t believe them. Still, Paul hasn’t been in his regular form for some time now, so perhaps being kept out is exactly the jump start he needs to get back to his scoring ways. That said, Marriott wasted no time in showing his skill, working the ball forward for Fletcher to take a shot within the first thirty seconds of the match. He’d make another good run a few minutes later after a Sutton throw-in near the corner flag was defused in the box by Fletcher. The striking partners certainly seemed to be on the same page in the early going.
Sutton’s first big chance came at 11’ when Omari Patrick put in a good effort, but Okonkwo was equal to it. Wrexham would survive a corner and several more near-corner throw-ins from Sutton throughout the first twenty minutes. Wrexham had a great chance to net the opener at 26’ when McClean launched a brilliant long ball from the back third of the Wrexham half that went over everyone and found Marriott near the Sutton box, but he was under pressure and his quick shot went just wide, to Jack’s disbelief.
While it was mostly Sutton for the first 20-25 minutes, Wrexham found a grove after that Marriott attempt, creating another strong chance at 30’ when Fletcher and Bolton worked well together to tag-team the ball up the right flank. Unfortunately, the Sutton defense formed up well and the boys couldn’t get anything through the box. At 35’, keeper Dean Bouzanis launched one right into the Wrexham box, but Bolton got in front of his man and did really well to usher the ball out for a goal kick. Sutton would look dangerous again at 42’ as a Harry Beautyman cross found Joe Kizzi in the box who made a good attempt with a header, but the ball went just above the bar.
Stoppage time was ushered in with an injury to Beautyman and Craig Eastmond came on for him. He was welcomed into the game with another small delay as Bolton blasted an effort into Eastmond hitting him right smack in a…delicate area. After a few pained moments, he walked it off. Wrexham got the ball back into the box and the Sutton defenders were scrambling to keep the ball out of the net. Fletcher did well to keep it in striking distance and the unlikely hero of Will Boyle swept in to put the ball away. Boyle was certainly not who I expected to report as scoring the first Wrexham goal of the day, but the effort will certainly go a long way toward proving Boyle’s doubters (myself included) wrong. It ended up being the last action of the half, and Wrexham went into the dressing room up 1-0.
The second half also began with a first-minute chance, but this time it was Sutton who got the ball in front of the goal and Okonkwo was called into action to make the save. The ball fell back in front of goal but the Wrexham defense was able to swat it away. Wrexham’s first attempt of the half would be a weak one from Marriott nearly halfway down the pitch and it didn’t bother the keeper one bit. This came shortly after Eastmond was booked for dissent after the ball hit McClean’s arm. The ref and lineman had a good look at it and denied Sutton’s pleas for handball, causing half the squad to surround the ref. Honestly, it was a toss-up. Upon replay, the ball definitely touched his hand but his arm was also definitely in a natural position. I think it was the right call…but I might not be saying that if the shoe was on the other foot. Sutton and their fans’ ire was more than understandable.
61’ brought a furious effort from Sutton and culminated in an Eastmond shot that Cleworth blocked. The corner was poor, with a shot sailing over the bar, but during the exchange, Evans visibly motioned to the bench that he needed to come off. He’d limp off the pitch - a worrying sight to say the least - and was replaced by captain Luke Young. Phil stated after the game that Evans had some tightness in his glutes and would need further evaluation. My bet is he will miss at least a week or so, but at the very least I can’t imagine we see him against Notts County this weekend.
Nine minutes later, Phil made his next change: a double substitution of both strikers: Palmer on for Fletcher and Mullin on for Marriott. Immediately after the change, a Sutton free kick proved threatening. A quick attempt in the box floated up in the air and Okonkwo caught it just in time, but with men coming at him he also took a blow to the head. Our masked man received a check-in, but ultimately he shook it off and carried on.
At 76’ Sutton’s pressure finally boiled over. Lakin took a free kick at the edge of the D and it went straight over the wall and past Okonkwo, who dove the wrong way. 1-1 with 14 minutes to go. In response, Wrexham came forward quickly. Olly Sanderson fouled Cannon badly, but Andy first managed to get a through ball off to Mullin…but the ref didn’t play advantage and instead opted to book Sanderson immediately. It didn’t matter much, as Wrexham restarted quickly and Mullin took a pass from Boyle really well and skimmed the bar from a tough angle. The Reds’ pressure would end with an effort from Palmer that was on its way in before Bouzanis made an impressive catch.
Wrexham kept the heat on, determined to get all three points from the match. At 84’ Bolton nutmegged his man and passed the ball straight through the box to Elliott Lee, who reared back and put Wrexham in front with a classy goal, his 14th of the season and his first since December 23rd. 2-1 Wrexham as the match entered the home stretch. Bolton’s assist was his last action of the game as he was swapped off for Mendy after the goal following a really strong 87 minutes.
Sutton put in a number of chances in the five added minutes, but only one found its way to Okonkwo who made the catch without much fuss. With twenty seconds to go, it looked like Wrexham may wrap it up as Cannon repeated his trick from earlier, pushing a ball through just before he hit the ground from a foul. Mullin was on side and slipped a pass through to Lee who came very close to making it a brace, but Bouzanis got to it in time. The save gave Sutton hope and they earned a throw-in toward the Wrexham goal with seconds to spare. The ball was bounced around the box before O’Connell got to it and blasted it into space as the final whistle blew.
Wrexham’s losing streak is officially snapped, and boy did we need it. Not only for our own morale but to keep pace. Elsewhere today, Crewe bested league leaders Stockport County, while an unexpected win from Forest Green over Barrow helped Wrexham climb back up to fourth place, two points behind Crewe in the final playoff spot. But the big story from League Two today goes to Mansfield Town’s 9-2 beatdown of Harrogate Town to firm up their hold on second place.
Man of the Match has to be Will Boyle for me. Not only did he get Wrexham back on the board with his goal, he nearly added an assist to it while performing well at the back, putting in 8 clearances, 2 interceptions, 7 passes into the final third, and winning 12 duels. Phil gave Boyle a chance to prove himself and he clearly wasn’t about to let it slip.
Here’s the latest table:
Next Match:
Saturday 2/17 vs Notts County
We’re back home at the Racecourse on Saturday for what should be a real gem of a game: Notts County are coming to town. We may have just ended a losing streak, but so did County, who hadn’t won since December 29th. Last time out we won 2-0, but Notts have struggled since their success early in the season. They’re currently in seventh, the final playoff spot, and are eight points behind us. That said, they still boast Macaulay Langstaff, the top scorer in the league, and will be determined to bring home a win after Wrexham won the last two battles.
