WREXHAM 1
Rodriguez 29
STOCKPORT CO 0
Stockport County boss Dave Challinor left Wrexham fuming at the officials’ performance in their defeat in North Wales.
The hosts moved to second thanks to Jay Rodriguez, who scored at the second time of asking, after referee Simon Mather awarded a controversial penalty nearly half an hour in.
A second yellow card for defender Brad Hills late in the day did little to improve the Stockport manager’s mood.
However, it was the penalty decision – eventually given for handball against Ibou Touray as he put the ball out for a corner – after a lengthy discussion with the linesman that had Challinor fuming.
Poor
Visibly unhappy with the officials, Challinor was biting his tongue but made his feelings crystal clear, saying: “I’m not going to get myself in trouble over it by saying what I truly believe.
“I’ve just spoken to the officials, although they don’t say much back, but my argument will be ‘what have you seen?’
“You’ve got a flag, so if you believe there’s a foul, wave your flag now.
“I’ve been told that they’re not supposed to do that anymore.
“Regardless of that, it’s never a penalty.
“For the linesman to get involved on the far side of the pitch and do nothing else in the game has cost us.
“It’s another really, really poor decision in my eyes where we’re not talking about two teams that are playing football.
“We’re talking about a third team, and it will continue to go on, and we might get another apology around decisions.
“Unfortunately, promotion, relegation and people’s jobs will be decided by people in black outfits.”
Match action
It was the visitors who started the stronger but, an off-target shot from Tanto Olaofe aside, they struggled to create chances.
And County fell behind just before the half-hour mark.
A ball to the back post was bundled behind by Touray but, after a discussion with his linesman, Mather awarded a penalty for handball.
Rodriguez saw his spot-kick saved by Corey Addai, but he was first to react, squeezing the loose ball in under the goalkeeper’s body.
TANGLE: Eoghan O’Connell, left is and tackled by County’s Owen Moxon
Second half
Stockport were inches away from an equaliser seven minutes into the second half, Callum Connolly rising to meet
Lewis Bate’s ball into the box, but Arthur Okonkwo stretched out a hand to tip the ball onto the top of the crossbar and out.
A break by the hosts gave Sam Smith a chance, but Addai got his body behind his effort.
Olly Rathbone should have made the last 20 minutes more comfortable for Wrexham from Ryan Longman’s cross, but he nodded wide.
County’s chances of salvaging a point were dashed ten minutes from time when Hills was shown his second yellow card for a foul.
Delighted
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson was delighted with the performance of his matchwinner, who hit his first goal for the club.
“Jay has had a long period of coming off the bench at Burnley and we can sense he’s getting fitter all the time.
“But when you go from being a sub to playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, it’s tough.
“But he gives us a lot.
“I felt he was looking really sharp.
“That’s five clean sheets in the past six.
“We’ve restricted Stockport to very little over and it was always going to be a match of few chances.
“There’s a lot of football to be played, but this has helped us.”
Player ratings
Wrexham: Okonkwo 7, Cleworth 7, O’Connell 8, Brunt 8, Longman 7 (Barnett 69, 6), Dobson 7 (Lee 75, 6), James 7, Rathbone 7, McClean 7, Rodriguez 7 (Fletcher 70, 6), Smith 7 (Marriott 88). Subs not used: Howard, Scarr, Revan.
Stockport County: Addai 7, Connolly 6 (Diamond 67, 6), Hills 5, Pye 7, Knoyle 6, Camps 6 (Moxon 20, 6), Bate 7, Touray 5 (Fevrier 68, 6), Collar 6 (Bailey 79, 6), Wootton 6, Olaofe 6. Subs not used: Metcalfe, Horsfall, Norwood.
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