Wrexham 4
Mansfield 1
Richie Barker's 41st minute penalty was not enough to seal the points for the Stags despite going into the break one goal to the good. A twelve minute horror show in the second period that saw the home side not only equalise but go into a two goal lead. A fourth for Wrexham with only two minutes of playing time remaining just compounded the misery of the travelling Stags.
Stags made four changes to the side that beat non leaguers Grays Athletic at the weekend. Out went Adam Rundle, Jon Olav Hjelde, Jake Buxton Allen Russell and in came Gavin Peers, Gus Uhlenbeek back from suspension, Jonathan D'Laryea who was cup tied and not allowed to play at the weekend and Rhys Day back in the centre of defence.
The change in personnel also brought a change in shape with the Stags matching our host's 3-5-2 formation for first time in Shirtliff's charge.
An early advance from the Stags came close in the fourth minute when a corner taken short to Gus Uhlenbeek in the centre of the park who switched play to Jonathan D'Laryea. A low power driver from the on loan midfield man was defended short to Richie Barker who poaching on the near post ducked to head the ball home but keeper Ingham got a hand to it and palmed it out off play for another corner. This time the build wasn't as good and Wrexham took control with relative ease.
A dangerous moment came in the nineteenth minute when a ball was headed down towards his near post. The Stags' shot stopper dropped to his knees and managed to thwart the effort knocking it around the post for another corner.
In the fortieth minute Barker was brought to ground in the eighteen yard box. The ball spilt to Stephen Dawson who carried on play and knocked the ball to the inside of the far post but referee had already blown for the penalty. Barker spotted the ball, struck it and netted his fourteenth goal of the season.
A perfect opportunity in the last minute of normal time was wasted as Barker sent a cross towards Birchall who was advancing deep in the Wrexham box but the ball just a little to far forward rolled out off play before Birchall could connect with it.
Everything was brought even in the 49th minute when a corner floated to the edge of the box and Williams rose to nod home.
The home side took the lead from a superb low shot from McEvily in the 53rd minute. The ball cut through the centre of the midfield and was struck low and hard into the bottom right corner. From the restart a freekick deep in the Wrexhsm third found the chest of Rhys Day who placed the ball well calling keeper Ingham into action diving full stretch to thwart his effort.
Three mi9nutes later Jake Buxton was brought on to replace Dawson who had taken a few knocks throughout the first half. Buxton dropped into the left back role that was previously occupied by Alex John-Baptiste who moved forward to the centre of the midfield.
Just after the hour the home team took advantage of some poor Stags defending and Walters was left all the space in the world to drill home Wrexham's third goal and further extend their lead.
Two minutes later Shirtliff in a bid to claw something back from this game brought Simon Brown (fresh back from injury) to replace Adam Birchall.
In the 75th minute Stags made their third and final change bringing on Allen Russell to replace Gavin Peers this meant an extra man up front with Barker and Brown. Immediately the Stags made a charge forwards with all three front men giving chase but the assistant referee judged Brown to have started his run too soon and flagged him off side.
The first booking came in the 83rd minute when Alex Smith brought Brown to earth. The free kick was flicked towards goal by Jake Buxton where Barker attempted to slide the ball home but the best he could muster was the outside of the netting.
The next minute brought the first Wrexham change when Dean Bennet replaced goal scorer Lee McEvilly.
Mark Jones compounded the Stags misery with an easy shot in the 83rd minute that gave Wrexham their fourth of the day. He was immediately changed by Paul Warhurst in the 84th minute.
As normal time ticked away Wrexham Substitute was added to the referee's notebook and a last ditch consolation effort by Stags Captain Richie Barker summed up the Stags night when a well placed shot clattered the upright.
Wrexham: Mike Ingham, Alex Smith, Dave Bayliss, Dennis Lawrence, Danny Williams, Jon Walters, Darren Ferguson, Lee McEvilly (Dean Bennett 84), Lee Roche, Matt Crowell, Mark Jones
Subs NOT used: Michael Jones, Simon Spender, Mike Williams
Cautions: Alex Smith (83), Paul Warhurst (90+1)
Mansfield: Kevin Pressman, Gavin Peers (Allan Russell 75), Gareth Jelleyman, Rhys Day, Alex John-Baptiste, Stephen Dawson (Jake Buxton 56), Gus Uhlenbeek, Richard Barker, Adam Birchall (Simon Brown 63), Giles Coke, Jonathan D'Laryea
Subs NOT Used: Jason White, Adam Rundle
Referee: Mr AR Hall
Asts: Mr C Dunn, Mr RH Smith
4th Off: Mr J Waring
