The Rise of Rathbone
Ollie Rathbone powered both of Wrexham's games this week while the women's team stand on the precipice of league safety.
After a week of highs and lows, both Wrexham squads face important tests this weekend.
The Wrecap:
Northampton Town 0 - 2 Wrexham
Wrexham dispatched Northampton in quick, easy, and rather dull fashion last weekend as Phil fielded the same starting XI from our last league match against Crawley. With Howard in goal and Smith and Rodriguez leading the line, Wrexham controlled the ball right from the start. After nineteen minutes, Howard delivered a long pass to Smith, who popped it past Northhampton keeper Nikola Tzanev for his first Wrexham goal. Howard earned an assist for his effort. Just three minutes later Rathbone doubled the lead from a tough angle, his fourth of the season.
But the action thinned out considerably after that. Wrexham ran rings around Northampton, keeping a steady 58% possession in both halves to go along with their constant pressure and fourteen shots (three on target). The home side managed only five shots without a single one posing a threat to Howard, who kept his third clean sheet of the season. Rathbone is my MotM for his goal, two shots, fifty-six touches, and 88% accurate pass rate as he continues to establish himself as the midfield fulcrum. Meanwhile, Wycombe drew with Crawley Town, bringing us two points shy of second place ahead of the Leyton Orient match.
Read the full report from Wrexham here.
And watch the highlights here or below:
Match Facts:
Starting Lineup: Howard, Cleworth, O’Connell, Brunt, Barnett (Longman 79’), Dobson, James, Rathbone, McClean, Smith (Marriott 79’), Rodriguez (Fletcher 71’)
Bench: Okonkwo, Cannon, Marriott, Revan, Scarr, Longman, Fletcher
Goals:
WRX — Smith (19’), Rathbone (22’)
NOR — None
Yellow Cards:
WRX — Cleworth (86’)
NOR — Perry (45’), McGeehan (86’)
Wrexham 1 - 2 Leyton Orient
Phil named the exact same starting XI yesterday, with Palmer and Mullin both noted as healthy but not included in the squad in favor of Fletcher and Marriott on the bench. Lee also remained absent following his car accident (more on that below).
The squads wasted no time going after one another. From the kickoff, the first half was a fast-paced, hard-fought battle at both ends. Ollie Rathbone opened the scoring after ten minutes courtesy of a McClean corner in what would merely be the opening act for the midfielder. Rathbone put on a show this match, including rescuing a promising ball for Leyton and jump-starting Wrexham’s counterattack with an acrobatic spin and sprint towards the opposing end (4:33 in the highlights below). That moment came shortly after Leyton equalized on a sharp-angled strike that Howard couldn’t get to (although I think Okonkwo’s height would have saved it had he been in goal). The half ended with another strong effort from the Reds as they continued to make Leyton keeper Keeley work, but the visitors managed to sneak out of danger before the whistle.
Leyton then blasted their way into the second half, taking the 2-1 lead after just five minutes. Thus began what would be a tumultuous second half for both teams, with each side putting in seven more shots. All told, however, Orient dominated the half. It was only in the last ten minutes that Wrexham started to show promise of equalizing, an outlook that only improved when Darren Pratley was sent off for a second yellow card. But despite having the numerical advantage and eight minutes of stoppage time, the Reds couldn’t get it done. It wasn’t for lack of trying, however: Keeley and his defenders kept several inspired efforts from reaching their target. Donley has to be the unbiased MotM as a result, but on the Wrexham side, it was unquestionably the Ollie Rathbone show.
The loss means Wycombe’s victory over Bristol strengthens their grip on the second automatic promotion spot. They have regained a five-point lead on Wrexham, while Leyton now have a three-point hold on the final playoff position.
Read the full report from Wrexham here.
And watch the highlights here or below:
Match Facts:
Starting Lineup: Howard, Cleworth, O’Connell (Marriott 82’), Brunt, Barnett, Dobson (Cannon 65’), James, Rathbone, McClean (Longman 75’), Smith, Rodriguez (Fletcher 65’)
Bench: Okonkwo, Revan, Scarr, Cannon, Longman, Fletcher, Marriott
Goals:
WRX — Rathbone (15’)
LEY — Kelman (31’), Donley (50’)
Yellow Cards:
WRX — Dobson (45+2’)
LEY — Abdulai (78’), Pratley (79’, 87’), Sweeney (90+2’)
Red Cards:
WRX — None
LEY — Pratley (87’)
Women: FAW Cup Quarterfinal
Wrexham 5 - 0 Swansea City
The Wrexham women’s hopes of reaching the safety of the top four in next Sunday’s final match of Phase One received a powerful shot in the arm when the squad trampled over Swansea City to reach the semi-finals of the FAW Cup. Manager Steve Dale pulled no punches for the Cup, fielding the majority of his first team in this preview of next Sunday’s rematch against the Swans. And if this performance was anything to go by, the Reds have a fighting chance of taking the fourth spot just in the nick of time.
Abbie Iddenden opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark and then Ava Suckley doubled it with a penalty kick moments before halftime. In the second half, Liv Fuller and Iddenden added two more in the first twenty minutes to really establish a safety net before Rosie Hughes added one more for good measure in stoppage time. It’s an incredible morale and confidence booster against a squad we had yet to beat in the league. If we pull it off again on Sunday, we’ll guarantee ourselves a third-straight season of top-flight women’s football.
Read the full report from Wrexham here.
And watch the highlights here or below:
Match Facts:
Starting Lineup: Craven, Sharp (Gibbard 64’), Clark, Lovett, Lightfoot, L. Jones (Hughes 53’), Cairns, C. Jones (Pritchard 71’), Fuller (Davies 71’), Suckley, Iddenden.
Bench: Morgan, Gibbard, Pritchard, Davies, Hughes
Goals:
WRX — Iddenden (29’, 64’), Suckley (P-42’), Fuller (53’), Hughes (90+3’)
SWA — None
Yellow Cards:
WRX — Lovett (77’)
SWA — Deacon (66’), Jones (77’)
Current Tables
League One
Adran Premier
News from the Week:
Lee Updates
This morning on his Instagram, Elliot Lee posted photos of his car accident last week. Although Wrexham’s statement at the time listed “no major injuries,” Phil issued an update on Lee earlier this week:
Elliot is key player for us, he’s our top scorer and we need him back obviously but we’ve got to make sure he’s right.
Obviously the trauma of that takes its toll on you a little bit. He’s very shaken up as you can imagine and we’re pleased that he’s okay. We want to give him a bit of time before he comes back.
Judging from the photos, Lee’s injuries may be a little more serious than the cuts and bruises McClean suffered in his accident only a few weeks ago as this looks like a pretty serious accident.
The Week Ahead
2/23 at Mansfield Town
US: Paramount+, iFollow. UK: Skysports+
10am EST / 3:00pm BST
This time last year a matchup with Mansfield Town was marquee viewing. It’s a little different this year, as the Stags find themselves in a deep rut and deep on the table. Following their 1/4 win over Stockport, Mansfield sank into a seven-match losing streak, broken only by a 3-3 draw with Blackpool. They followed that up with another loss to Lincoln yesterday. That has left them in fifteenth on the table and fifteen points from the playoffs.
All of this should be good news for Phil and the Reds. Everyone knows of our struggles away from home, so with two home games on the horizon in the Trophy and the League, this is an excellent time to take advantage of Mansfield’s recent struggles, particularly while Wycombe face Wigan in an equally favorable matchup.
Women: 2/23 at Swansea City
US: iFollow. UK: Skysports+
12:10pm EST / 5:10pm BST
The preview for the Wrexham Women’s Matchday 14 is pretty simple: win and they will have grabbed the fourth slot on the table at the last possible second, securing their place in the women’s top-flight for a third straight season and giving them a (very distant) chance at the title. Lose or draw, and they’ll be forced to fight off the bottom three clubs in the league to avoid relegation.
Until last weekend, Swansea had our number at every turn. Hopefully, the squad can ride the momentum of that statement win all the way to a guaranteed top-half finish.