Southend United skipper Kevin Maher nearly gave Blues the perfect start against Wrexham.

The midfielder connected well with a second minute free-kick, but Dragons goalkeeper Paul Whitfield was equal to the effort and tipped the ball over the bar.

Wrexham midfielder Darren Ferguson flashed another set-piece wide of the Southend goal, before Blues defender Stephen Broad did well to deflect Lee Trundle's shot past the left post.

Battling - Barrington Belgrave shields the ball from his marker

With 19 minutes gone, Wrexham frontman Trundle beat Broad and forced Flahavan into another save from 12-yards, leaving left-back Damon Searle to clear the danger.

Searle then powered through the centre of the park, before finding Smith, who nudged through Jones, but the frontman's angled 15-yard effort was easy for Whitfield.

But with 40 minutes gone, Wrexham substitute Steve Thomas, who had replaced calf injury victim Paul Barrett, poached the decisive goal.

Flahavan made another excellent save, keeping out a vicious 15-yard shot from Morrell, who had brushed aside Broad with ease, and Thomas hammered the rebound inside the right post.

Just before the break, Trundle struck another effort wide, before Belgrave lashed an awkward bouncing ball past Wrexham's left post.

Blues returned to the fray keen to make amends and three minutes after the restart Jones' far post header from Maher's left-wing free-kick cannoned against the face of the bar.

Searle then glanced another headed chance off target and Blues wideman Neil Jenkins' low skidding shot was palmed away by Whitfield, only for Jones' converted follow up to be disallowed for offside.

With 11 minutes left, Searle got on the end of Maher's flag-kick, but Whitfield blocked with his legs in the mud, before Smith's 18-yard effort flew wide.

Wrexham defender Dan Bennett made a crucial penalty box challenge on Blues' substitute striker Mark Salter, who had raced on to Mark Beard's through ball to face Whitfield.

Published Monday November 4, 2002

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