Wrexham are going for goals in their quest for National League success during 2019-20.
The Dragons had one of the best defences in non-League football last season, but failed to score enough goals.
Wrexham failed to score against Crewe Alexandra in their latest pre-season fixture, but manager Bryan Hughes believes he has an attack which will produce goals.
“We’ve brought good attacking players to the team,” says Hughes. “We have good options. The most important thing is we need to get them in the areas where they can score the goals and affect the game.
“That’s what we been doing that this pre-season. You can see that in some of the patterns that we’ve been playing.
“When it means something and three points are on the line then hopefully these players will bring themselves to the table and produce the goods.”
Stuart Beavon and Shaun Pearson were joint top-scorers last season with six goals apiece and Wrexham just failed in their promotion bid.
“It was a bit of a whirlwind when I arrived in Wrexham and we did well,” said Hughes.
http://https://youtu.be/7eYveh7huy0
“We finished the season strongly, qualified for the play-offs, but then faltered at the last hurdle.
“The vibe has been extremely positive around this pre-season with the recruitment. We have a really good squad.
“This National League is so hard and other managers before me have found it hard to get out of it, not just at our club but other clubs as well.
“It is difficult. A lot of the games are fine margins, which I witnessed last season.”
Wrexham’s new signings include forwards Leighton McIntosh, Devonte Redmond, JJ Hooper and on-loan Cardiff City striker Mark Harris.
They start their National League season at home against Barrow on the opening day of the season this Saturday.
In their latest pre-season fixture Wrexham lost 1-0 against Crewe Alexandra with Charlie Kirk scoring the only goal after 75 minutes.
Hughes started with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Adam Barton and Paul Rutherford were rested, while Akil Wright was still recovering from illness.
New signing Michael Chambers was among the substitutes, along with Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and goalkeeper Dawid Szczepaniak.
Winger Kirk, aged 21, is an Academy graduate who scored 11 goals from his wide position last season.
Manager David Artell says: “Charlie has come on leap and bounds over the last 18 months. He has matured on and off the pitch.
“We always knew he had incredible ability coming through the Academy. It has taken him a bit of time, but he is still only 21.”
Wrexham AFC: (4-2-3-1): Dibble (GK), Jennings, Pearson (capt), Lawlor, Carrington (Barnum-Bobb 46), Summerfield, Young, Redmond (Chambers 46), Grant (Oswell 84), Harris, Hooper (McIntosh 67). Subs not used: Szczepaniak, Sargent, Thorn.
Crewe Alexandra FC: (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen, NG, Pickering, Wintle, Hunt (Jones 41), Nolan, Powell (Dale 77), Lowery, Porter, Kirk, Finney (Green 71). Subs not used: Richards, Anley, Lundstram.
Referee: Alex Livesey
Attendance: 1792 (away 264)
Two Wrexham home matches will be broadcast live on BT Sport television over the first three months of next season.
TV cameras will be at the Racecourse for Wrexham v Sutton United on Saturday, September 15 (5.20pm) and Wrexham v Chesterfield on Saturday, October 12 (5.20pm)
All 24 Clubs in The National League will be shown live by the broadcaster within the first three months of the campaign (see list below).
https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC/status/1155813285989625857?s=20
Vanarama National League fixtures being shown live on BT Sport television over the first three months of the season
August
Saturday 3: Stockport County v Maidenhead United (12.30pm)
Saturday 10: Notts County v Barnet (5.20pm)
Saturday 17: Barrow v Yeovil Town (5.20pm)
Saturday 24: Torquay United v Aldershot Town (5.20pm)
Monday 26: Solihull Moors v Eastleigh (7.45pm)
Saturday 31: Chorley v Boreham Wood (5.20pm)
Saturday
Wednesday 4: Dagenham & Redbridge v Bromley (7.45pm)
Saturday 7: Hartlepool United v Woking (7.30pm)
Saturday 14: Wrexham v Sutton United (5.20pm)
Saturday 21: AFC Fylde v Eastleigh (5.20pm)
Saturday 28: Dover Athletic v FC Halifax Town (5.20pm)
October
Saturday 5: Harrogate Town v Ebbsfleet United (5.20pm)
Thursday 10: Stockport County v Hartlepool United (7.45pm)
Saturday 12: Wrexham v Chesterfield (5.20pm)
https://twitter.com/Wrexham_AFC/status/1155756808805466112?s=20
Wrexham’s full 2019-20 National League schedule
August
Sat 3 – Barrow H
Tues 6 – Boreham Wood A
Sat 10 – Dover Athletic A
Tues 13 – FC Halifax Town H
Sat 17 – Notts County A
Sat 24 – Barnet H
Mon 26 – Hartlepool United A
Sat 31 – Stockport County H
Saturday
Tues 3 – Maidenhead United H
Sat 7 – Solihull Moors A [Scottish Challenge Cup R3]
Sat 14 – Sutton United H
Sat 21 – Aldershot Town A
Tues 24 – AFC Fylde A
Sat 28 – Ebbsfleet United H
October
Sat 5 – Woking A
Tues 8 – Harrogate Town H
Sat 12 – Chesterfield H [Scottish Challenge Cup R4]
Sat 19 – Emirates FA Cup 4Q
Sat 26 – Dagenham & Redbridge A
Tues 29 – Torquay United A
November
Sat 2 – Bromley H
Sat 9 – Emirates FA Cup R1
Sat 16 – Eastleigh A [Scottish Challenge Cup QF]
Sat 23 – Yeovil Town H
Tues 26 – AFC Fylde H
Sat 30 – Ebbsfleet United A [Emirates FA Cup R2]
December
Sat 7 – Solihull Moors H
Sat 14 – Buildbase FA Trophy R1
Sat 21 – Sutton United A
Tues 26 – Chorley H
Sat 28 – Maidenhead United A
January
Wed 1 – Chorley A
Sat 4 – Aldershot Town H [Emirates FA Cup R3]
Sat 11 – Buildbase FA Trophy R2
Sat 18 – Woking H
Sat 25 – Harrogate Town A [Emirates FA Cup R4]
February
Sat 1 – Dagenham & Redbridge H
Sat 8 – Chesterfield A [Buildbase FA Trophy R3]
Sat 15 – Torquay United H [Scottish Challenge Cup SF]
Sat 22 – Bromley A
Sat 29 – Yeovil Town A [Buildbase FA Trophy R4]
March
Wed 4 – Emirates FA Cup R5
Sat 7 – Eastleigh H
Sat 14 – Barrow A
Sat 21 – Boreham Wood H [Emirates FA Cup QF/Buildbase FA Trophy SF1]
Sat 28 – FC Halifax Town A [FA Trophy SF2/Scottish Challenge Cup Final]
April
Sat 4 – Dover Athletic H
Fri 10 – Hartlepool United H
Mon 13 – Barnet A
Sat 18 – Notts County H [Emirates FA Cup SF]
Sat 25 – Stockport County A
May
Sun 17 – Buildbase FA Trophy Final
Sat 23 – Emirates FA Cup Final