It's hard to do justice to how bad this performance was, but here's a start. A Grays side in turmoil after their owner/manager relinquished his role in charge of the team and threatened briefly to pull the plug, having lost five of its last six games and been humiliated 3-1 last Saturday by a Woking side registering its first win of the season, outclassed Wrexham in every department. And that's probably an understatement.
Sure, Wrexham battled back after a first half which was as grim as being seduced by Vanessa Feltz, but the second half renaissance soon petered out and Grays could have run up a huge score if their finishing had been any better as they picked Brian Lttle's side off on the break.
The seeds of Wrexham's destruction were sown before a ball had been kicked. The same eleven which earned an impressive 3-2 win over Ebbsfleet without playing particularly well were retained and set up to knock long balls at the two strikers, a tactic which led to them both
Substitutions:
Wrexham
Baynes for Taylor 59
Proctor for Spender 79
N Brown for Kearney 83
(UNUSED SUBS: A Williams, Mike Williams)
Grays
Cogan for Molesley 72
Ide for St Aimie 84
Bailey for Rigg 90
(UNUSED SUBS: )
Yellow Cards:
Wrexham
Louis, S Brown, Mackin, Whalley
Grays
Wilnis, Sloma, Elliott, Molesley
Red Cards:
-
being isolated and starved of good service.
As a result it wasn't until the game was nearly half an hour old that they mustered an effort on goal to speak of, and it was a result of the first burst of real football either side had managed. Levi Mackin, who was involved in much of what was god about Wrexham, worked a sharp one-two with Simon Spender who whipped a cross onto the head of Whalley. Although the striker mistimed the contact the ball looped encouragingly over the stranded keeper before just clearing the bar.
side who were also able to play on the floor when required, they played with the verve of a team looking to please a new manager and featured three impressive on loan debutants. David Button in goal, England's next keeper according to the PA announcer, was highly
plainly had the beating of Spender.
An early sign of Wrexham's defensive inadequacy came when Mark Molesley cut in from the right and, despite the fact that it was a routine run, found the path to goal open as both Evans and kempson inexplicably stumbled and fell whe he ran at them at tepid pace. His shot was unconvincing, allowing Ward to save, but the manner in which the defence would part despite not being under particular duress would turn out to be no novelty.
As the half wore on, with Wrexham playing a mindless version of the home side's direct game, the visitors nearly snatched a goal from a set piece, Tom Kearney sweeping in a free kick from the right which Louis might have done better with, but he mistimed his lunge and made missed the ball from six yards out. Neil Taylor got a foot to it as he followed up at the far post but couldn't make a clean contact from close range.
A minute later Wrexham were behind, and in the most embarrassing manner. A simple hoof over the top by Button caught the defence out, and as Spender made a hash of the task of handling St Aimie's run down the left channel the striker drew Ward out and slotted it inside the right post.
Wrexham nearly responded immediately, a long throw only being cleared as far as kearney, whose powerful 25-yarder fizzed towards the top right corner until Button thwarted it with a masterful parry round the post. Kearney held his head in his hands, and he would have had further cause for anguish in injury time as his defenders gifted Grays another goal. This time a routine long throw from the right struck panic in the defence. Flicked to the edge of the six yard box, Kempson obligingly nodded it down into the dnager area and as the other defenders stood gawping at the ball St. Aimie pounced to sweep a volley past the helpless Ward.
It was an appalling first half performance and Wrexham's fans vented their spleen on the side at the whistle. Sent out a good three minutes early for the second half, they started rather better, and a ball over the top by Kempson offered Louis a first sight of goal as he ran down the right channel, but his powerful volley drew another good save from Button.
The early breakthrough would come though, and it was the one highlight for Wrexham's long suffering fans. A free kick on the edge of the D was rolled by Kearney to Mackin, who launched a terrific drive into the top right corner. He didn't actually touch the only previous goal he has had credited to him in his senior career, at Lincoln on the last day of last season, but this strike was certainly all his own work.
Until the hour mark Wrexham pressed on with unfamiliar vigour, realising that an early equaliser would tip the balance enormously in their favour and bring bad memories flooding back to a Grays side used to throwing games away this season. However, the ball just wouldn't go in. Kearney had a shout for a penalty turned down as he fell following a challenge from behind, but in truth he ought to have released a shot earlier after excellent work down the left by Whalley. Then Tremarco went marauding down that flank, and twice was nearly rewarded. Firstly, when he cut into the box Fabian Wilnis went sprawling in his path and clearly put his hand on the ball. Tremarco's penalty appeal refused, he carried on and pulled the ball back to Louis, ten yards out, but his placed effort went just wide of the right top corner.
Then came the moment which sealed Wrexham's fate. A good pass down the right by Mackin found substitute Wes Baynes in space and his cross picked out Simon Brown six yards out. He ought to have equalised, but scuffed a poor shot which wrong-footed Button nevertheless. The keeper took a bit of the pace off it but the ball trickled towards goal and Louis looked to have a tap in from a foot out until the keeper leapt acrobatically to smother the ball at his feet.
If that had gone in, who knows whether Wrexham would have been able to push on, but as it was they ran out of creative drive from that point. Although they looked to push forwards, it was Grays on the break who were the more likely scorers; indeed, if Rigg had been able to finish he would have got himself a second half hat trick.
His first opportunity summed up Wrexham's comical defending. Kempson did well to get out of a tricky situation on the edge of the box then promptly trod on the ball, leaving Rigg clear on goal, but Ward saved his centre back by standing up and parrying the shot well. Then Rigg blazed two great chances over from inside the box, one after another neat link-up with St. Aimee, the other after he had charged through Wrexham's nominal defence himself.
Wrexham expended a lot of energy trying to haul themselves back into the game, but did not work Button. The writing was on the wall; a side set up to lump high balls at Shaun Whalleywere outmanouvred tactically, oddly enough, and slumped to a deserved, humiliating defeat. At least they have the capacity to surprise; the moment you think you've hit the lowest point, they take it even further!
