IT may have been 39 days since they last played a competitive match but Wrexham finally began 2010 on a winning note.
Eight successive matches have been postponed since Wrexham were last in action in the FA Trophy defeat at Altrincham on December 15, while the Reds last played in the league ten days earlier.
The Wrexham players have had to make do with countless training sessions at Colliers Park, while a couple of practice matches have been hastily arranged after the latest spell of wintry weather.
Wrexham could have been forgiven for being rusty following their enforced ‘break’ but they played their part in a thoroughly entertaining clash against highflying AFC Wimbledon at The Racecourse on Saturday.
And Dean Saunders’ side also got the desired result.
The goal, a rather fortunate one, arrived in the first half when keeper Seb Brown carried the ball over the line following Gareth Taylor’s cross.
Wrexham could have added to their tally in the second half when they raised their game, Brown making an unbelievable save from Taylor.
It was a well contested game as play-off challengers Wimbledon showed why they are one of the form teams in the Blue Square Premier, but while they enjoyed their share of possession, Wimbledon lacked a cutting edge in the final third – but that was testament to the excellent defending from Wrexham.
A debut was given to striker Andy Mangan and the 23-year-old showed just why Saunders persisted in trying to land his man following lengthy negotiations with Forest Green Rovers over the last few weeks.
Mangan, playing his first match of the season after serving a five match ban for breaching betting rules, had a couple of half chances and supplied the cross for striker partner Taylor who was denied by the heroics of Brown in the second half.
Tiredness eventually got the better of Mangan, who lasted nearly 70 minutes, but there is definitely more to come from the likeable Liverpudlian.
He will have exactly half of the season – 23 more matches – to build up his tally as Wrexham wade through a congested fixture period over the next four months because of all those games that fell victim to the weather.
Unfortunately, Anthony Barry, Saunders’ other transfer window signing, won’t be a part of that as the midfielder asked if he could leave Wrexham so he could instead join Conference North highfliers Fleetwood Town.
More money and a longer contract has persuaded Barry to drop down a division without even making an appearance for Wrexham after joining from Chester City.
It remains to be seen if Saunders will make any more additions before the transfer window closes, but he will be buoyed by Wrexham’s winning start to the year, and will be looking for three more points when the Reds travel to Rushden and Diamonds tomorrow.
Saunders opted to continue with Sam Russell in goal with Silvio Spann, Ashley Westwood, Mansour Assoumani and Frank Sinclair forming the defence.
Wes Baynes, Andy Fleming, Christian Smith and Lamine Sakho operated in midfield with Mangan and Taylor in attack.
The game was just two minutes old when Mangan was presented with his first glimpse of goal when he latched onto Spann’s through-ball but the striker was quickly closed down in the area by centre-back Brett Johnson who made an excellent challenge.
Well organised Wimbledon were soon demonstrating why they are genuine play-off contenders by playing some neat attacking football that led to chances of their own.
Will Hendry drilled over following good work by on-loan striker Nathan Elder, and Hendry’s low shot was well gathered by keeper Russell.
Mangan was in the thick of the action and after getting the better of two defenders, his 18th minute drive finding the side-netting, and the striker saw another effort blocked for a corner when Sinclair delivered a teasing cross following an excellent move.
It had been a well contested match and it was Wrexham who took the lead in controversial circumstances after 29 minutes.
Taylor hooked the ball back from the by-line into the six-yard box and as Brown went to claim under the challenge of Sakho, the Dons’ keeper carried the ball over the line.
Despite Wimbledon protesting Brown had been fouled, referee Davison awarded a goal – Wrexham’s first of the year.
The Reds continued to prise openings and when Spann centred following another well crafted move, Taylor headed across goal for Sakho who converted from close range but the goal was disallowed as Taylor was adjudged to have pushed a defender.
Baynes also struck the bar with a superb 25-yard free-kick on 45 minutes, and it remained 1-0 at the break.
Saunders decided to replace Sakho with Jamie McCluskey for the start of the second half, and the Scottish winger played his part in a 55th minute move that almost led to a second goal.
McCluskey ran at goal and fed Mangan who centred from the right for Taylor whose six yard header was brilliantly palmed away by Brown when a goal looked a certainty.
However, Wrexham almost pressed the self destruct button in the 64th minute when Russell’s clearance from Fleming’s back pass was charged down by Elder who looked to have found the net with his shot from the loose ball, but the Reds’ keeper managed to race back and clear off his own line.
Mangan was visibly tiring and he was replaced by Obi Anoruo – making his first appearance of the season – four minutes later.
Wimbledon’s Lewis Taylor only just cleared the bar with a 25-yard free-kick as the visitors attempted to get back on level terms, and Wrexham were finding themselves increasingly on the back foot, playing too deep and allowing Wimbledon to keep the pressure on.
And Baynes was on hand to clear Elder’s header off the line following a corner into the danger zone.
Mike Williams was brought for Taylor with five minutes remaining, occupying a midfield role as Wrexham tried to cement their lead in the closing stages.
Wrexham had to survive four minutes of injury time but they pressed for a second goal and Baynes’ goalbound drive was blocked.
Time got the better of Wimbledon and Wrexham secured a welcome three points.