WHEN will Wrexham ever learn.
With two-thirds of the season gone, Wrexham are still failing to kill games off after dominating for large periods.
For the second successive week, Wrexham had to settle for a disappointing point when really they should have secured all three with a victory.
Ebbsfleet United were the latest team to benefit from the Reds’ inability to put a game to bed at The Racecourse on Saturday.
Like at Salisbury City the previous weekend, Wrexham had enough chances in the first half to have built up a healthy lead.
It was one-way traffic as relegation-threatened Ebbsfleet offered nothing in attack, but all Wrexham had to show for their efforts was a third goal of the season for January signing Andy Mangan.
As supporters are only too aware, Wrexham needed the comfort of a second goal to make the game safe and not allow Ebbsfleet the chance of snatching an unlikely point.
But yet again, missed opportunities came back to haunt Wrexham as Ebbsfleet grabbed an equaliser.
It was a case of what might have been for Wrexham who continue to lack the killer instinct needed if they are going to challenge for a play-off berth.
That has been the problem all season as their record of 32 goals in 32 league outings proves.
Saunders won’t give up on trying to achieve the play-off goal, but it is looking more unlikely by the game – and there aren’t many fixtures left.
Even the most optimistic of supporters will accept that Wrexham’s play-off dream is over, with the Reds needing to win the majority of their remaining games to extend their season.
And that is something that doesn’t look remotely possible given that Wrexham are unable to win games they have dominated.
Still 12th in the table, Wrexham find themselves 17 points adrift of Luton Town who occupy the final play-off berth, although the Reds have two games in hand.
The table will be amended once expelled Chester City’s results have been expunged, but Wrexham will still find themselves well off the pace and likely to be playing Blue Square Premier football again next season based on recent form and Saturday’s poor result in which Saunders named an unchanged side.
Wrexham had the better of the early exchanges and forced a series of corners which failed to produce an opening in front of goal.
Christian Smith came close to giving the home side a 12th minute lead after being played in by skipper Ashley Westwood but the midfielder’s 25 yard drive struck the top of the bar, with keeper Lance Cronin easily beaten.
However, Wrexham did break the deadlock just three minutes later.
A superb ball from Smith over the top of the Ebbsfleet defence was latched upon by Andy Mangan and he fired low past Cronin into the bottom corner of the net.
Ebbsfleet responded through a Moses Ashikodi header from a Peter Holmes cross which was comfortably saved by Reds’ keeper Sam Russell.
Starting to dominate the game, Wrexham looked the more likely to add to the scoreline and they had a goal disallowed on 27 minutes following a well worked move.
An excellent through ball by Smith was back-heeled by Mangan into the path of Andy Fleming who ran towards goal before picking out Luke Holden but his close range strike was ruled out for offside.
Another excellent opportunity went begging after Wes Baynes knocked Smith’s pass into the path of Mangan who failed to connect properly and shot wide when he only had Cronin to beat.
With Wrexham firmly on top, Holden’s goalbound volley from Fleming’s cross struck a defender, and Mark Jones’ effort was blocked after Fleming dispossessed his marker in the area.
Despite being in control, Wrexham had a lucky escape in added time when Russell failed to punch clear Darius Charles’ free-kick, but Holmes only found the side netting from the loose ball.
The chances kept coming Wrexham’s way at the start of the second half and when Jordan Collins’ 49th minute clearance was charged down by Baynes, he centred for a lunging Smith whose shot cleared the bar.
Fleming was put through on goal but Holden was adjudged to be in an offside position after more good build-up play, while Silvio Spann also fired wide.
Saunders made his first change on the hour when Jamie McCluskey was introduced in place of Baynes.
Wrexham continued to press and Mike Williams put Mangan through on goal but his two efforts from inside the area were blocked by defenders.
However, Ebbsfleet hit back with a 69th minute equaliser when Cronin delivered a free-kick from his own half that was headed back across goal by Leon Crooks for Ashikodi who mis-hit his first attempt but was able to fire past Russell with the follow-up.
Back came Wrexham and Mangan centred for Holden who was off target with his free header, and Fleming’s powerful drive was turned around the post by goalkeeper Cronin.
Matty Wolfenden was sent on in place of Jones with 12 minutes remaining as Wrexham attempted to try and score a vital winner.
The best opportunity came in injury time when Holden’s cross from the left was not dealt with by a defender but Mangan’s shot was saved by Cronin.
However, time got the better of Wrexham who had to settle for a disappointing point.