Wrexham search for another pre-season match after concerning draw to Spennymoor
10.08.2021
Star-powered Wrexham roared into pre-season this year, with 9 goals and two clean sheets in their opening games against Tamworth and Fleetwood Town. Fans erupted, seeing their beloved team in the flesh for the first time in many months, as Wrexham’s bumper crop of summer signings dominated Tamworth, of the Southern League Premier, and Fleetwood Town, of League 1. Phil Parkinson’s men hoped to repeat the performance at the National League North’s Spennymoor Town.
For much of Saturday’s game, Wrexham remained on the front foot. Signing of the summer Paul Mullin threatened throughout, and Wrexham took the lead in the first half through last season’s top goalscorer Luke Young. Four short minutes into the second half, Jake Hyde, a recent arrival from Halifax, doubled the Reds’ lead. However, things went wrong for Wrexham shortly after.
A deflection took Frank Mulhern's shot past Wrexham keeper Christian Dibble, and Wrexham’s ‘Trialist A’ later conceded a penalty to bring Spennymoor back in the game. While these incidents aren’t so significant in isolation, Wrexham’s form after Spennymoor drew level concerned fans and management alike. Spennymoor threatened for the last quarter of the match, leaving Wrexham, who managed to scrape a draw, on the ropes.
To make matters worse, new centre-half signee Shaun Brisley went off with a knee injury, joining fellow newly-arrived centre-half with a knee injury Harry Lennon on the bench. Wrexham offer formidable strength up-front, but it takes a robust defence to win titles and promotions, the club’s ultimate goal.
Steve Parkin, Wrexham’s assistant manager in charge of the match while Phil Parkinson self-isolates, remarked on his injury concerns: ‘pre-season is always disappointing when you pick up a couple of injuries’. While the club has plenty of squad depth, and may well sign more before their opening clash with Yeovil, it takes time to bed in new talent. Parkin re-stated that the club is ‘still trying to strengthen the squad’, and ‘need another game next Saturday’. To schedule another game before the start of the season, Parkin committed to ‘doing everything we possibly can’.
While Wrexham officials express some concern about the situation, their perspective bodes well for a successful campaign. Demanding better after two decisive wins and a resilient draw show the club’s high calibre ahead of an exciting campaign.
