If York was spectacular, this was meaningful. The change in Wrexham since Dean Saunders has never been laid more bare than it was at Field Mill. Despite injuries and going behind in catastrophic manner, they delivered once more, claiming a third consecutive win for the first time in eighteen months.
Once more Saunders made changes, although many of them were enforced, and again his reshuffle worked-so much for Brian Little having a weak squad! Ashley Westwood came in to make his debut and looked impressively solid, Michael Proctor worked typically hard up front had occasion moments of promising creativity and Levi Mackin showed endeavour in midfield and used his height well when Mansfield put Wrexham under pressure. Only Simon Brown failed to grasp his opportunity with an insipid performance against his old club.
Again in contrast to the Little era, Wrexham started on the front foot, pressing Mansfield back, and in the first five minutes they might have gained a decisive advantage. Centre back Maxime Chanot allowed an early ball over the top to bounce, letting Marc Williams get in behind him and the defender responded by pulling him to the ground a yard outside the box. It seemed the only decision the referee had to make was what colour card to deliver, as Williams was clear on goal but left of centre. Incredibly Mr Curry did nothing but award a free kick, and the fortunate Frenchman was able to continue. Mind you, that might not have been a bad thing as the duel between those two players would be a fascinating element of the match, and the young Welshman would come out decisively on top!
Wrexham continued to push, but things would turn against them in a calamitous period midway through the half. Carl Tremarco landed awkwardly after a header and had to go off with an ankle injury, necessitating a big switch round, Neil Taylor dropping to left back, Simon Brown switching wings and his replacement, Silvio Spann, slotting in on the right. Spann was only just back from international duty in Trinidad and certainly wasn't expected to play a major role in the game, and six minutes later he made an error which suggested he shouldn't have been sent on so soon!
Frustratingly for Saunders it all stemmed from a Wrexham corner, earned when Marc Williams nearly opened the scoring. His brother played a sharp ball to his feet on the edge of the box and the defence backed off, allowing him to drill a shot across the keeper which looked destined to go in the bottom left corner until an outstretched leg deflected the ball over for a corner. Baynes' ball in was cleared to Simon Brown, who sloppily walked into Nathan Arnold's challenge, allowing Mansfield a two-on-two break. Arnold overhit his through pass, Spann intercepting as he ran towards his own goal, but the Trinidadian inexplicably underhit his backpass, allowing Emile Sinclair to mark an otherwise poor debut by rounding the stranded Gavin Ward and rolling the ball home.
For a while Wrexham were reeling, but Mansfield failed to create any real chances from their pressure, a pattern which would be consistent throughout the game and was a testimony to Wrexham's solid defending as much as it was to The Stags' toothlessness. Slowly Wrexham's midfield turned things around, despite Brown being anonymous and Spann suffering an absolute first half nightmare, unable to stop Michael Blackwood going past him at will. The terrific away support of over five hundred serenaded him constantly and he would repay them in the second half.
The visitors recovered from the shock of the goal and regained the initiative. Their efforts would be rewarded when Wes Baynes whipped a tremendous corner from the right which Mike Williams met with a firm header into the bottom right corner from six yards out. It said everything about Baynes' delivery that the team ran to congratulate the corner taker rather than the man who had just scored the first goal of his career!
Soon afterwards Wrexham could have taken the lead. Quick thinking by Proctor, hurling a throw immediately down the line to Marc Williams put the striker in a great position, but he was tackled by Alex Jeannin when a square ball would have sent Silvio Spann clear on goal. The momentum was firmly with Wrexham now though, and they would have been disappointed not to have converted their domination into a half time lead. The closest they came was when Taylor chipped the ball to the far post, Chanot misjudged its flight, and Michael Proctor, twisting his body to try to get around his header, looped the ball beyond the keeper but narrowly wide of the far post.
Mansfield started the second half on a more even keel, and once more sloppy work by Spann and Brown allowed them to break, but Hurren stabbed hurriedly wide from six yards. Their early zeal would soon be extinguished though; they wouldn't enjoy another threatening moment until the 85th minute.
Indeed, not long after their energy had subsided, Wrexham were ahead. A ball down the right was chased with typical diligence by Proctor who did well to get there ahead of his man and even better to poke a first time ball to the near post. Marc Williams took it from there, showing excellent upper body strength to barge Chanot off the ball, hold him off and drill the ball past Paddy Gamble from six yards out.
Wrexham were looking comfortable and as the half wore on their lead was unchallenged. They nearly doubled it after the best move of the match ended with Baynes whipping in a cross which Proctor met on the volley from ten yards, but he was denied by a flying parry from Gamble.
Indeed, the only threat to Wrexham seemed to be the constant spate of injuries. Having already lost Tremarco, Mike Williams also had to leave the pitch, suffering from concussion. The reshuffles left Taylor constantly changing position in recognition of the new personnel, and more alterations were required in the closing stages when Mansfield threw Jason Lee on up front. Saunders shrewdly responded by introducing Steve Evans, who made amends for his nightmare against York by totally dominating the veteran target man.
With four men up front Town roused themselves and threw the kitchen sink at Wrexham in the closing minutes, but created little. When they did threaten the spirit of Saunders' side was epitomised by Taylor, who made two massive six yard box interventions. First Arnold crossed for Hurren, but Taylor hurled himself in to make a terrific block, and then he exceeded that after substitute Anthony Robinson ran clear to slide in and make a fine tackle.
Five minutes were added on but as they wore on Mansfield were held comfortably at arm's length. Indeed, the only effort in injury time came when Joe Allen's fast feet and determination allowed him to scramble between two defenders on the edge of the box and hit a shot which he scuffed, although Gamble, a scruffy keeper whose technique is suspect, still made a bit of a drama of an easy save as he slumped onto all fours.
The final whistle blew to signal a third straight victory for Saunders and a highly satisfying one. At a venue where Wrexham traditionally struggle, he'd seen his team fight their way to three points when necessary, and play flowing football in spells to boot. A moment late in the match when Silvio Spann brought a sumptuous ball from Allen down on his instep and balanced it tauntingly for a moment before flicking it beyond the advancing Jeannin said it all. Wrexham have discovered the swagger that has been missing for so long.
