Manager Sam Ricketts expressed his delight after Wrexham’s 2-0 Emirates FA Cup replay win against Harrogate Town at the Racecourse.
Akil Wright scored his first Wrexham goal, Luke Young added their second and ‘keeper Rob Lainton kept a 12th clean sheet of the season.
The reward for Ricketts’ Dragons is a first round match against National League South Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.
“I’m really pleased for Akil,” said Ricketts. “He’s a great lad who gives his all every day in training and in every game so I’m delighted for him to get on the scoresheet.
http://https://youtu.be/lOYhIUWgvec
“I think he’s been learning off Rekeil (Pike) if you look at the finish – a backheel, mid-body height and a brilliant finish.
“I am delighted with the win. It’s three years since the club won a fourth qualifying round tie so it’s another step in the right direction.
“It was a hard-fought game. It’s taken a replay to finally score against Harrogate, but they are a decent side and at times we were excellent tonight. At other times, a little sloppy, but overall it’s a brilliant win.”
Attention now turns to Chesterfield in the league with a big away following expected for Saturday’s game at the Proact Stadium.
But Ricketts promised that, once attention turns back to the FA Cup and the game against Weston, they will not under-estimate their lower-league opposition.
“Weston will be a hard game to go to,” Ricketts admitted. “If it had been at home, you would say it was a more comfortable game, but away it will be tougher.
http://https://youtu.be/vSMkHKo2N4o
“I’m respectful of that. I’ve been that lower side in the FA Cup. If you don’t go there and respect them, you will get turned over.”
After goalless draws in the league and cup at Harrogate, and a goalless first half under the Racecourse floodlights, it was always going to take something special to break the deadlock and Wright delivered.
The midfielder volleyed in from a corner to open the scoring in this FA Cup fourth qualifying round fixture, before Young’s second goal in three games sealed victory.
Ricketts made five changes from the team which started the original tie, two of which were enforced with Shaun Pearson and Luke Summerfield both out injured.
Jake Lawlor and James Jennings returned, however, and were joined in the starting line-up by Rekeil Pyke, Stuart Beavon and Jordan Maguire-Drew. Mike Fondop, Paul Rutherford and Doug Tharme dropped to the bench.
Wrexham were in front on 62 minutes when Wright met Young’s left-wing corner with an acrobatic flick at the front post to break the deadlock.
Wright was taken off with a head injury with 20 minutes remaining – Paul Rutherford replacing him – but Wrexham maintained their momentum.
Young doubled the lead on 76 minutes, however, after good hold-up play from substitute Fondop, who laid the ball back for the midfielder to fire low into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
Harrogate pressed for a way back into the game and Beck, six yards out, headed straight at Lainton from Jack Muldoon’s cross on 86 minutes.
At the other end, Jennings did well to keep the ball alive in the corner to find Pyke in the 87th minute, but the Huddersfield loanee curled just wide across goal.
Wright’s injury meant there were eight minutes of stoppage time to play, with Ricketts eating up some of those by bringing Scott Burgess on for Beavon.
And the full-time whistle confirmed it will be he Dragons who face National League South side Weston-super-Mare in the first round next month.
Wrexham AFC: (4-3-3): Lainton, Roberts, Lawlor, Walker, Jennings, Young, Carrington, Wright (Rutherford 71), Maguire-Drew (Fondop 56), Pyke, Beavon (Burgess 90). Subs not used: Dibble, Holroyd, Deverdics, Tharme.
Harrogate Town: (4-4-2): Belshaw, Burrell, Howe, Langmead, Kitching, Agnew (Kerry 61), Falkingham, Emmett, Leesley, Thewlis (Muldoon 67), Williams (Beck 56). Subs not used: Cracknell, Fallowfield, Thomson.
Referee: Daniel Middleton (Derbyshire)
Attendance: 2,515 (away 43)
EMIRATES FA CUP
FIRST ROUND PROPER
SATURDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2018
WINNERS RECEIVE £36,000
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40 Weston Super Mare v Wrexham