Only a fool would read too much into a pre-season friendly, but then only a fool would have put up with the last two years and come back for more, so home fans at The Racecourse will have been delighted to see Brian Little's new look side perform so impressively in seeing off Championship opposition.
Actually, make that Brian Little's two new look sides. An experienced first half team dominated a strong Wolves side, and after the break a more youthful eleven snatched a goal and defended it well.
It was Wes Baynes who made the breakthrough in the grand manner, four minutes after the break. Having won a free kick himself twenty-five yards out he looked like he might take a quick kick but Neil Taylor raced across to tell him to take his time. It was wise counsel as Baynes stepped up to thrash a screamer into the top left corner, leaving the keeper helpless and his two man wall looking sadly inadequate.
It was just reward for an impressive first half performance as Wrexham carved out a number of chances and defended soundly. The latter fact was illustrated by the fact that Wolves' only effort of note came in the last minute of the half, when Andy Keogh should have done better after Michael Kightly crossed to him six yards out, his shot
on the turn being smothered by Gavin Ward.
With Gareth Evans looking at ease in the Danny Williams role in midfield, Nat Brown a no-nonsense presence at the back and Jefferson Louis awkward and strong up front, there was a physical backbone to the side. It was Tom Kearney who caught the eye most, looking like a midfield playmaker in the manner of Peter Ward, an interested spectator in the directors' box. His tidy passing was impressive, as was his conscientious tracking of Dave Edwards' runs into the box.
The early impetus was provided by Sam Aiston though. Looking determined to prove to Brian Little that he still has a future at the Racecourse, he set off on a series of exciting bursts down the left which caused all sorts of problems for Wolves. His most effective surge saw him beat three men then tee up Louis, who shot from the edge of the box span out of Wayne Hennessey's hands and over his shoulder, the disorientated keeper heading off in the wrong direction before realising the ball was behind him and lunging frantically to ensure it didn't trickle over the line.
The awkward Louis also had a decent shout for a penalty turned down after Darren Ward seemed to tug at his shirt before the first good chance of match was spurned. A dangerous corner from Silvio Spann, who showed some signs of improvement on the right side of midfield, found its way to at Brown six yards out, but he missed the ball completely and when it was scrambled to the edge of the box Kearney drove over when he had time to do better.
A sharp break nearly caught Wolves out as Michael Proctor's clever flick rewarded some good movement inside by Aiston but the winger hit his twenty yard shot into the ground and it bounced narrowly wide of the left post. Spann put a free kick wide from similar range before Proctor had a chance to make a similar point to Aiston: a good cross by Kearney picked him out six yards out but although he did well to back off his man he still couldn't quite get on top of his header and the ball cleared the bar.
With twenty-two changes made at the break Wolves had a chance to take the initiative, but Baynes' goal rocked them back. Still, they showed more energy in the second period and enjoyed a great deal more possession. Wrexham's defence remained fairly untroubled though, with Kyle Critchell another big, athletic addition to the squad and little Chris Marriott feisty on the left. Only a coupole of times did the clean sheet look under threat: a Stephen Eliiott shot from outside the box took a cruel looping deflection off Marriott and dropped just over the bar; a Matt Jarvis cross nearly crept in and had to be palmed away by Anthony Williams, and in injury time a Michael Grey cross was headed well wide by Elliott when he might have left it for the better-placed Jarvis. The rarity of a Wolves threat was illustrated by the increasingly frustrated demeanour of their fans, who applauded a couple of desperate long range shots which were hit straight at Williams with sarcastic cheering.
Wrexham's secodn half side certainly didn't have the same authority as their predecessors, often squandering midfield possession and therefore inviting more pressure on themselves, and leaving Marc Williams and Simon Brown starved of service up front.
Brown was still able to show that he has real pace though, twice threatening to race clear but both times unable to take the ball with him. One of those opportunties led to a familiar failure to take an opportunity as Brown, Williams and Taylor all had chances but failed to convince.
Williams also had a chance when Levi Mackin won the ball high up the pitch, but his shot was too straight and although Carl Ikeme dropped it he was able to gather the ball before Brown could pounce.
There was no question that the result was justified though. Friendlies might mean nothing, but Wrexham know to their cost that confidence is enormously important so this was a step in the right direction.
"It had been a flattering win, but Saunders' work in progress continues to get results even while he tinkers with it. If he gets the side exactly as he wants it, the Conference will have to watch out..."
