REPORT | Blues fall to defeat at Racecourse
WREXHAM netted two goals in the second half to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games with victory over Chester in the 156th Cross-Border Derby.
January signings Sam Quigley and Nicky Deverdics both scored to secure all three points for the Red Dragons.
Marcus Bignot was left without influential midfielder Gary Roberts for the 156th derby fixture, who picked up a knock during Tuesday’s defeat to Dover Athletic. Lucas Dawson entered the starting line-up, alongside James Akintunde who replaced Harry White leading the line.
Jordan Archer carved the Blues first chance of the feisty encounter within the opening twenty minutes. Returning to his former club, Dominic Vose fed a through ball towards Andy Halls on the edge of the area, and the 20-year-old striker guided his header inches over the crossbar from a pin-point cross.
Wrexham began to apply the pressure, and Blackpool loanee Sam Quigley almost stuck the home side in front on the half hour mark. A deep ball in by former City man Paul Rutherford almost found the striker’s head, but Shaun Hobson cleared with a late run towards the far post.
As the first half drew to it’s conclusion, youth graduate Tom Crawford missed possibly Chester’s best opportunity of game so far. In acres of space on the edge of the area, the 18-year-old failed to make a clean connection with the ball which fell to him nicely after good build up play.
Yet again, Archer went agonisingly close to putting the Blues ahead following a mistake from Reds keeper Chris Dunn. With a sharp turn 20-yards out, the striker fired directly at Dunn but the shot crept underneath the former Cambridge man, and away for a corner kick.
After a significant spell of pressure from the home side, Quigley netted the opener. The striker found space on the edge of the box to fire a weak effort beyond Andy Firth, who failed to palm away the strike.
Dean Keates’ side then doubled their advantage as Nicky Deverdics netted his first goal for Wrexham following his arrival from Hartlepool United in January. Chris Holroyd had his strike blocked by Blues captain Ryan Astles, but Deverdics was on hand to coolly place the rebound into the back of the net.
Chester: Firth, Halls, Hobson, Astles, Anderson, Waters (Mahon 79), Dawson, Crawford, Vose, Akintunde (Hannah 72), Archer (White 72).
Unused: Jasskelainen, Jones.