Wrexham are one of those clubs that I admire (yes I know that it’s a pig to get to and is in Wales) as they have the same sort of struggles behind the scenes to keep going as us yet still try to play the game the right way. The ten point deduction for going into administration has really knocked the heart out of the team and this is disappointing as you would have hoped that the team spirit would have lifted them above this. Perhaps they are all just worn out by the sad events. I hope that they survive to start next season.
Anyway to the football. The conditions were perfect for good football and with both sides known for their passing then a good spectacle was anticipated. Wrexham, as expected, started brightly and forced several saves from Moss with Ugarte showing why he has scored so many goals (how did we miss picking him up?) but generally they weren't that threatening.
We had lined up playing 3 5 2 with Elliott and Purches (great to have him back looking fully fit) playing wide and dropping back to make it 5 3 2 when required. The only times we looked in trouble was when we played ourselves into that position. In particular a bad back pass by Eddie led to Mossie slicing a clearance upwards, the sort of thing you couldn't do if you tried, and this led to a bout of heroic defending with players flinging themselves into the path of shots etc.
Llewellyn claimed a penalty when he clashed with Purches when on a run into our box, but ref Mr Olivier appeared to not even give the incident any thought.
It wasn't all Wrexham and on our forays forward, albeit rather rare, we looked dangerous. O'Connor and Stock had long range efforts saved, Purches was taken by surprise when a whole gaggle of players missed an Elliott cross and he could only shoot straight at the 'keeper once he had composed himself, and O'Connor was foiled by loanee 'keeper Foster on the edge of the box.
I suspect that the Wrexham fans were disappointed to be level at half-time but they did not have the overall quality to score, and if this was their best, then we should have no trouble after our usual half-time team talk and the lifting of the cautious approach.
HT: 0-0
It was just as we thought and we came out in the second half looking far more purposeful, although Wrexham were not done yet. Moss saved easily from a Jones header and Eddie blocked a shot after a run by Edwards (two good Welsh names but only one of them is). O'Connor went on a mazy run - he looks even better in the middle of midfield - and slipped a ball through for Purches who had made an intelligent run into the box and he lifted the ball over the 'keeper.
A far more extrovert celebration than usual from Purchy ensued, no doubt due to scoring so soon on his return to the team. Wrexham's Crowell then forced Moss into a decent save to put a long range effort round the post, but it was AFCB who struck again: Edwards was guilty of a loose pass out of defence and O'Connor controlled it and with a quick look up put in a perfect ball for the sprinting Elliott to lift it over the stranded Foster.
We now went 5 3 2 fixed and this was partly to blame for their goal. Edwards' cross was met by sub Armstrong (yes he's still going) with a header across Moss into the far corner. The change of formation meant that he was challenged by Simek as the taller Mills was now playing dead centre. This was quickly realised and we switched to 4 4 2 with Simek and Purches as the full backs.
Wrexham huffed and puffed but just weren't good enough to create another goal and it was us who came closest. Roberts was booked for bringing Elliott down as he was sprinting with the ball just outside the box and was booked, earlier in the match it could have been more severe, and Stock whipped the ball around the wall but into the side netting. Good substitutions of Young for a tiring Purches and Browning for Hayter to shore up midfield but with Spicer pushed forward ensured that we now coasted to victory. Llewellyn was booked for a petulant foul but that was it.
It is now a record equalling four away wins on the trot. If only we could sort out the home form we would be walking our way into the play offs or possibly more although a bit late for this. The side look a lot happier away from home particularly when they are let off the leash in the second half.
Whether this will change when the expectation for away wins and performances increases, I hope not. At the moment they look like they think hey can't lose away from home. Also another match without a booking for us. This must make us appear soft but I suspect that the opposition might disagree and it is due to good discipline and timing of tackles.
This was a good team performance with few notable individual displays. Simek showed that he has real pace with one fifty yard sprint to break up a Wrexham break late on and the defence was generally solid. The midfield probed well but the strikers were disappointing as Fletch had one of his ineffectual days and Hayter looks tired although still gave 100%.
Man of the Match has to be 
O'Connor as he created both goals.
AFCB: Moss, Mills, Howe, Simek, Elliott, Purches, Stock, Spicer, O'Connor, Hayter, Fletcher
Subs: Green, Connell, Rodrigues, Young (for Purches, 79), Browning (for Hayter, 79) (no 'keeper as Stewart appears to have upset S'OD with his comments in his programme interview).