WREXHAM’S long unbeaten league run – stretching back to September 27 last year – finally came to an end as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Forest Green Rovers at The New Lawn last night.
Andy Morrell’s side equalled the club’s best unbeaten run since joining the Football League in 1921 when they beat Kettering Town 4-1 at the weekend but hopes of setting a new record never looked like happening.
Subdued Wrexham produced one of their poorest performances of the season as a run of seven successive Conference wins also came to an end.
In fact, Wrexham would have been happy to come away with a point as they were second best against impressive Rovers who set their stall out from the start and were a real threat going forward.
Wrexham have rarely had to come from behind this season and when they did go a goal down after 48 minutes, Forest failed to take their foot off the gas and maintained their grip on the game.
Both sides had chances as the second half wore on, with Rovers causing the Wrexham defence plenty of problems.
But Wrexham enjoyed a late rally and skipper Dean Keates saw a penalty deep into added time saved by former Reds’ keeper Sam Russell.
Keates also missed a penalty in last week’s FA Cup defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion and he was unable to salvage a point on this occasion.
It was not a performance typical of Wrexham in the first half and Rovers were the better side.
Too many passes went astray as error-strewn Wrexham invited pressure on themselves and Rovers had a number of decent opportunities to take the lead.
Wrexham also struggled to make any headway in the final third and only had one clear cut chance from returning striker Mathias Pogba to show for their efforts.
Still on level terms at the break after Rovers failed to make the most of their chances, Wrexham could only get better – but they found themselves 1-0 down just three minutes into the second half.
Confident Rovers were playing well, creating opportunities and were in no mood to allow Wrexham a way back into the clash.
Wrexham had chances as the half wore on but so did Rovers to their credit, and the home side held on for victory against the Reds at The New Lawn for a second successive season.
Defeat also meant Wrexham surrendered top spot to Fleetwood who beat Braintree Town, so the Reds will aim to get back on track when they host Bath City on Saturday.
The starting line-up showed one change to the side that beat Kettering at the weekend.
Striker Pogba, absent for the previous four matches because of an ankle injury, returned to the starting XI in place of Glen Little who dropped to the substitutes’ bench.
Less than two minutes had elapsed when Wrexham were given a let-off as Curtis Obeng’s attempted clearance in the area fell for Matty Taylor who shot straight at keeper Joslain Mayebi.
Goalkeeper Russell, making his home debut for Rovers after recently joining from troubled Darlington, had to make two important punches to clear the danger as the Reds attempted to make the most of set-pieces.
But there was another scare for Wrexham when Mayebi missed a high pass into the box, the ball was nodded back across goal and Taylor planted his header over the bar when he should have found an empty net.
With Wrexham struggling to keep possession, they were putting themselves under unnecessary pressure and spirited Rovers sought to take advantage.
Rovers were presented with another opportunity when Jay Harris’s sloppy pass allowed Taylor to run at goal and he fed Jake Thomson whose curling effort fell narrowly wide of the far post.
Wrexham finally created their first chance in the 32nd minute when Keates got a touch to Neil Ashton’s cross and Pogba’s six-yard shot was brilliantly saved by Russell.
Harris wasn’t far away with a 25 yard free-kick but Wrexham again put themselves under pressure as Chris Stokes low cross flew across goal and just needed a touch from a Rovers team-mate.
It remained goalless at the break but the second half was only three minutes old when Rovers took the lead.
James Norwood drilled the ball into the area and Taylor’s clever back heel beat Mayebi.
Cieslewicz and Harris were both off target with efforts from the edge of the area as Wrexham attempted to find a way back into the game while Little took over from Pogba on 56 minutes.
Oozing confidence, Rovers continued to press and Kieron Forbes’ drive deflected narrowly wide while the midfielder also saw another effort blocked by Mayebi.
A low Cieslewicz cross across goal was taken off the foot of substitute Johnny Hunt by a defender and a goalmouth scramble from the resulting corner failed to produce an equaliser.
Wrexham hadn’t given up, Cieslewicz cut inside and struck the bar with a 25 yard drive, but Rovers responded with Liam Henderson bringing an excellent save out of Mayebi who also did well to turn substitute Michael Uwezu’s shot behind.
Time was running out and Mayebi again came to the rescue to deny Thomson but back came Wrexham and Morrell and Keates were unable to convert following another goalmouth scramble.
The chance of an equaliser deep into added time went begging after Morrell was brought down in the area by Russell but the keeper atoned by saving Keates’ spot-kick - and time ran out on Wrexham.