NEWFA Cup Final: Buckley Town 3-0 Airbus UK

The NEWFA Cup Final presented an opportunity to take a look at the Racecourse Ground following the end of Wrexham FC's season a couple of weeks ago.

As Media Officer for Buckley Town it was pleasing to see them lift the trophy following a dramatic game which saw them overcome a strong Airbus UK second string. Having missed an early penalty and then reduced to 10 men - with forward Neil Wynne taking over in goal for half an hour - it was even more remarkable that Buckley dominated the game and won 3-0 thanks to some excellent goals.

A full match report and more pictures can be found at http://www.buckleytownfc.com/

As for the Racecourse - developments are quickly starting to take shape, certainly the speed in which the flats are being built on the car park right next to the Yale Stand. Unfortunately they will overlook a pitch in its worst state for quite some time. Clearly the demands of top-flight Rugby League (Crusaders RL) and Blue Square Premier football are taking their toll. Its pock-marked, the white markings for both sports clash and are unclear, while the ball bobbles when passed along the ground.

Pitch apart, it was a great way to end the term from a Buckley Town perspective with some silverware and Cymru Alliance status assured - follwoing an enjoyable and entertaining season.

Wrexham 1-0 Lowestoft Town

On the FA Cup trail again with another all non-league clash, this time in the 1^st Round proper. Blue Square Premier Wrexham took on part-time Lowestoft Town from the Ryman Division One North, three leagues below the BSP.

Despite a belated improvement in results, if not performances of late, the attendance at the Racecourse was disappointing. Perhaps locals have yet to be convinced that Dean Saunders’ side have turned a corner, or the away side from Suffolk weren’t a big draw for people used to much bigger cup-ties in years gone by.

The visitors, going well in their own league, brought a few hundred supporters to cheer them on, a great turn-out for a club of their size. However, even they have savoured bigger days out recently having been to Wembley for the 2008 FA Vase final.

It was a damp, murky afternoon at the Racecourse Ground for what was, in truth, a pretty dire game from a purist’s perspective.

Lowestoft were organised well defensively and did a terrific job in stopping the trickery and pace of Jamie McCluskey and Lamine Sakho from getting beyond their back-line. Up front their bald No.9 Matt Nolan held the ball up well and worked tirelessly all afternoon.

There was little wrong with Wrexham either but for the slowness of their build-up play which has hampered them at home in a number of games this season. Experienced forward Gareth Taylor was starved of any real service, and while Wes Baynes provided a link between midfield and attack, Lowestoft goalkeeper Andy Reynolds wasn’t really tested in the first-half.

Scoreless at half-time, the game stayed that way throughout most of the second-half too as the Trawlermen remained stoic in defence but became more adventurous going forward. Wrexham introduced the blistering pace of substitute Adrian Cieslewicz in a sign of urgency and desperation to avoid a mid-November weeknight replay near the Suffolk coast.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 88^th minute. A free-kick swung into the area by Baynes found Gareth Taylor who deflected the ball into the back of the net. The sense of relief around the ground was tangible.

There was no way back for Lowestoft. The effort and work-rate from their players had matched their fans singing all game and only the most loyal of Wrexham fans would have begrudged them a replay.

Wrexham’s prize is a 2^nd Round home game to ‘League 1’ Swindon Town, where a better performance will be required to help to bring back those heady giant-killing days of the past.

Man of the Match: Wes Baynes. The versatile 21 year-old provided the majority of Wrexham’s spark. A real threat running at the Lowestoft defence with the ball at his feet and never afraid to have an attempt at goal with a wicked shot. However, it was his cool delivery from the free-kick for Taylor’s late goal which booked Wrexham’s place in the FA Cup 2^nd Round.

Wrexham 3-0 Eastbourne Borough

Beginning the 2009-10 season with a trip to the Racecourse Ground to see Wrexham play hosts to Eastbourne Borough, it was difficult to know what to expect from this BSP opener.

Last term, Wrexham’s first season in non-league’s Blue Square Premier was a mixed bag even after the appointment of the likeable, hard-working and charismatic Dean Saunders as manager in October. A dream cocktail of attractive and winning football had Reds fans dreaming until it all tailed off disappointingly in both results and performance from February onwards.

Off the pitch, the large terrace Kop end at the Racecourse still stands empty awaiting a major redevelopment long in planning but slow in progress, leaving the historic ground 3-sided for the foreseeable future.

Whether the development will eventually generate enough profit to pay the clubs debts and secure its long-term future is a source of worry for Wrexham fans. There are few guarantees other than the word of the club’s hierarchy that should there be any hitches, the club and the ground will be safeguarded.

The visitors, Eastbourne Borough visited the Racecourse last December. They were hammered 5-0, a high point in Dean Saunders early days in charge and perhaps not a true reflection of the South Coast side in their otherwise impressive BSP debut season.

A crowd of just 3,726 (Eastbourne bringing fewer than 50 travelling fans) was perhaps less than expected for the first match of a new season. To their credit the home support made plenty of noise and atmosphere with optimism running high around the ground.

The game began with Wrexham setting the pace. With a large turnover in players during the summer it was impressive to see that a host of new signings have gelled quickly and confidently. The pick of the bunch, Hedi Taboubi dictated play in midfield while Adrian Cieslewicz provided a good outlet wide on the right with his blistering pace.

For all their attractive play however, Wrexham were unable to properly carve open a resolute Eastbourne side lacking in the quality to compete in an attacking sense. The visitors grew into the game though, without really threatening going forward, as the tempo slowed and Wrexham dropped back.

10 minutes before half-time Wrexham were awarded a free-kick in an inviting position just outside the penalty area. Taboubi stepped up and with no little power curled home the opening goal beautifully to lift the crowd and the game as a spectacle.

Not long into the second-half it was over as a contest. Cieslewicz’s speed on the break proved too much for Neil Jenkins who gave away a penalty in trying to stop the young Pole. The spot-kick was despatched confidently by veteran Welsh international Gareth Taylor.

Taylor grabbed his second goal of the game shortly afterwards. He used his height and strength to latch on to a long-ball, getting in between Neil Baker and goalkeeper Danny Knowles and lifting the ball into the net to make it 3-0.

Overall, an encouraging performance from Wrexham which hints that, though it is early days, they may well be up there challenging at the end of the season. There’ll be less encouragement for Eastbourne and their small but dedicated away following. They might struggle to match last season’s 13th place finish but look to have enough to beat the drop in 8 months time.


Man of the Match: Hedi Taboubi. The slight, bald, goatee sporting Frenchman is quickly becoming a cult hero with the Racecourse faithful. On the evidence of this performance, topped off with his excellent free-kick for the opening goal, it is easy to see why.