Wrexham FC on best form in the league following Hollywood takeover
27.11.2020
Wrexham capitalised on their upswinging form to earn a statement 4-0 victory over National League powerhouses Sutton United. In the league, no other side have won all three of their last three matches. The latest victory gives Wrexham a four-game unbeaten streak with four consecutive clean sheets.
Again, ‘dramatic’ is the operative word, as Wrexham’s stellar form follows the club’s high-profile takeover by Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. If fans of the ‘worldwide reds’ enjoyed these victories the first time, they can look forward to seeing them again on-screen whenever the big-budget sports documentary premiers. With each result on the pitch, Wrexham writes another line in their showbiz saga, as well as writing indelible marks on non-league football history.
Sutton United came to their Wrexham clash as favourites, themselves on a four-game unbeaten streak. United sat pretty at second in the league, and still do, but Wrexham closed the gap early on in the game with their first goal in the 28th minute. The volleyed strike flew in from the boot of 25 year old ex-Sutton loanee Kwame Thomas. The striker only came to Wrexham in August, but made his presence firmly felt in this game by assisting Wrexham’s third goal and scoring their fourth in the 79th minute.
Pouncing on an error from Sutton defender Ben Goodliffe, Thomas earned his brace, his third Wrexham goal of the season, and a decisive three points for the reds. Sutton’s defeat was not for lack of trying, and Wrexham’s goalkeeper Rob Lainton earned plaudits with vital reaction saves for his side.
In fact, despite a shaky start to the season, Wrexham’s goal difference is already at promotion standard. This latest win puts them sixth in the league, but with a goal difference of five they equal Sutton’s in second. With only a point now separating the two sides, Wrexham could storm into second in the league as early as their next game. On top of that, the reds have a game in hand ahead of the three teams above them, Woking, Wealdstone and Maidenhead.
Looking forward, the reds have a well-matched opponent to face next in another London team, Bromley. The Bromley ravens enjoy similarly strong form, also unbeaten in four, after their 1-0 victory at Altrincham. With the momentum from such a resounding win, Wrexham will be eager to prove themselves to their new host of global fandom. If they do beat Bromley, their next match against 14th-place Altrincham should give them an easier time of it.
After the Atrincham game comes a true reckoning. In three games time, Wrexham face the National League runaways Torquay United. United lead the league by a country mile, five points clear at the top with an impressive 17 goal difference. After an early defeat to Eastleigh, Torquay stacked up win after win, including a 5-0 stomping of eighth place Hartlepool.
However, before facing Wrexham, Sutton United had only faced one defeat this season, just like Torquay. If Wrexham take even a point of Torquay, they stand a good chance of living up to Reynolds’ and McElhenney’s football league ambitions. To make matters more exciting, Torquay fans could even be allowed inside their Plainmoor ground when the reds visit, as the game comes after the English lockdown ends on December 5th. This has the joint impact of giving Torquay a home field advantage, and providing an on-site soundtrack to Reynolds and McElhenney’s documentary.
Whether the Wrexham documentary becomes a romance or a tragedy remains to be seen. As pitchside results start to match their skyhigh aims, Wrexham’s progress has fans and neutrals alike glued to their screens. Each game brings them further up the table, and brings the worldwide reds more global acclaim. Stay tuned, watch the show, and remember, Wrexham’s the name!
