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St Mary’s to star on National stage – page 31
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SAUNDERS IS READY FOR REDS SHAKE-UP Football
Wrexham 0 Altrincham 1 DEAN Saunders emerged from a 45-minute post-match dressing room inquest to hint he is planning a major summer overhaul of his under-performing Dragons.
OFF YOU GO: Dragons defender Mansour Assoumani is red carded.
Wrexham’s depressing end to the campaign plumbed to new depths on Monday as they fell to a defeat, courtesy of Aurelien Collin’s 52nd-minute own goal, which officially ended their chances of reaching the Blue Square Premier play-offs. The reverse to the part-timers, for whom it was a first win in seven, means the Reds have won just two of their last 14 since they lost at champions-elect Burton Albion. Prior to that clash, the Dragons were touted as potential title dark horses after winning 11 and drawing four of Saunders’ first 16 games in charge. But their loss of form means they make the trip to Kettering Town on Saturday (3pm) in the no man’s land of 10th place. “The players have got to show more desire and get annoyed,” said Saunders, who rotated his mammoth squad yet again against Altrincham by making four changes to the team that lost 1-0 at Oxford United on Saturday. “Wayne Rooney gets annoyed if someone takes the ball off him and that’s what I want. Not everybody can be Rooney, but everybody can have his attitude. “In the summer, I have to get players in here like that. I’ve learned a lot about the league and I’m starting to think about things in different ways. “If we have a decent pre-season in which
FOUL PLAY: Wrexham striker Obi Anoruo is brought down on Monday. we have 12 to 15 games to teach the players, the ones who are going to stay here that is, they will come back wiser and stronger. “If I’m given the tools and everybody at the club is behind me and wants me to push the club forward, then I feel I can take the club in the right direction. “I never envisaged working at this level but I’ve got a feeling for the club, I’m Welsh and I’m trying as hard as anybody to get things right.” Goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, on his senior debut, Mansour Assoumani, before he was
harshly sent off late on for allegedly lashing out at Chris Denham, and Ryan Flynn were Wrexham’s better performers on a miserable afternoon at the Racecourse. Maxwell became the 45th player used by the Dragons this season after the on-loan Gunnar Nielsen broke his thumb at Oxford and returned to parent club Manchester City for treatment. Assoumani has been handed a three-match ban and so misses Kettering and Tuesday’s penultimate game of the campaign at Ebbsfleet United (7.45pm).
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Round-up NEWI Cefn Druids suffered their second successive 1-0 Welsh Premier League loss on Monday at Airbus UK Broughton – but results elsewhere mean they can effectively start celebrating their safety. An early goal from one of their former players, Danny Desormeaux, ensured the Ancients tasted defeat to their North East Wales neighbours for the third time this season. Druids are six points above the drop spots with two games to play but with a far superior goal difference to second-from-bottom Caersws, who they travel to on Saturday (2.30pm).
ON THE RUN: Druids veteran Aled Rowlands skips past Airbus’ Mark Cadwallader on Monday. JK130409 AirbusFC-03
■ Lex XI sealed a dream trip to the Racecourse Ground after they beat Llangollen Town 4-2 in their NEWFA Challenge Cup semi-final showdown at Bala Town’s Maes Tegid on Saturday.
Paul Griffiths, Mike Latham (2) and Gareth Roberts did the damage for the Cymru Alliance outfit with Mike Phelan and Ian Oliver Davies replying for the Welsh National League Premier pacesetters.
Lex return to league action at Llandudno on Saturday while struggling Gresford Athle tic, who were hammered 7-0 at home by second-placed Llangefni Town on Saturday, host champions-elect Bala (both 2.30pm). ■ Penycae suffered FAW Trophy final heartache on Saturday as they lost 1-0 to Swansea League high flyers Ragged School at Newtown’s Latham Park. The Welsh National League Premier Division outfit bid to bounce back on Saturday with victory in their NEWFA Challenge Cup semi-final with the Cymru Alliance’s Mynydd Isa at the Brymbo Sports Complex (2.30pm).
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