In a real blockbuster encounter, the top two in the National League go head to head this weekend for a place in the Buildbase FA Trophy final, as County travel to Wrexham looking to make it a club record 22-games unbeaten, and seal a place at Wembley.
Last weekend’s 2-0 win away at Eastleigh was our tenth straight victory in all competitions, and our 20th in our last 21 games – a run that has seen us move 11 points clear at the top of the National League table, with just nine games remaining.
The team closest to us right now are Wrexham, in brilliant form of their own lately, and they still have a game in hand on County to be played on Tuesday, as they look to reel County in and keep the title race alive heading into the final stages of the season.
Their epic 6-5 win against Dover last weekend, where they at one point trailed 5-2 to the already relegated Whites, made it ten games unbeaten for Phil Parkinson’s side, with nine wins in that run, to keep them firmly in the mix.
Since we last met:
County secured what could yet prove to be a crucial victory against Wrexham the last time we met back in September, when goals from Paddy Madden and Ryan Rydel secured a 2-1 win at Edgeley Park, despite having gone behind in the first minute through Paul Mullin’s goal.
That game came in the middle of underwhelming starts to the season from both teams, with County ending the day in 9th with Wrexham 7th, despite both being named as the pre-season promotion favourites.
Both teams, however, have emerged from those slow starts to really show their promotion pedigree over the last few months – with Wrexham themselves losing just twice since the turn of the year and winning 20 of their last 26 games, to ensure they have remained on County’s coat-tails as we continue to set the pace.
The title race takes a step backwards on Saturday afternoon however in what promises to be a showcase semi-final at the Racecourse, with both teams looking to add a trip to Wembley to look forward to, at the end of this gripping promotion battle.
County will be looking to reach the final of the competition for the first time in the club’s history, having lost out in the semi-finals in 2019, whilst Wrexham will be looking to reach their third – winning the competition for the one and only time in 2013.
Like County, Wrexham have beaten four sides already to reach this stage, starting with a 5-0 win against Gloucester back in December, before scoring five again in the next round against Folkestone Invicta, winning 5-1.
Boreham Wood were next up in the Fifth Round, with goals from Ollie Palmer, Jordan Davies and Aaron Hayden seeing The Reds cruise into the quarter-finals with ease, setting up a tie away at Notts County.
Despite falling a goal behind for the first time in their Trophy campaign at Meadow Lane, a strike from Dan Jarvis brought Wrexham level on the stroke of half-time, before the away side snatched victory late on through James Jones’ finish.
There may not be points to play for this weekend, but with two teams seemingly in unstoppable form at the minute coming face to face, expect plenty of drama, as both look to lay down a marker for the remainder of the season.
One to watch:
There’s plenty to choose from in Wrexham’s star-studded squad, with their forward line in electric form lately. Ollie Palmer has scored eight goals in 11 appearances since joining the Club from AFC Wimbledon, whilst Paul Mullin has scored 17 goals in the National League this season – level with Paddy Madden and behind only Kabongo Tshimanga.
It’s one of the men behind them that has stolen the headlines lately however, with midfielder James Jones picking up the club’s Player of the Month Award for March. The Summer signing from Lincoln City has been a key part of Wrexham’s midfield engine over the last few weeks, and has chipped in with four goals and two assists in his last five games.
Match Stats:
- County have a good recent record against Wrexham, having won our last four games against them. Our only previous meeting in this competition however, saw Wrexham win 6-1 at The Racecourse ground in a replay, after a 2-2 draw at Edgeley Park.
- Dave Challinor, who won this competition with AFC Fylde in 2019, will be looking to become just the third manager to lead Stockport County to Wembley, after Danny Bergara and Jim Gannon.
- A win for County on Saturday would see us set a new club record for consecutive wins (11) and games unbeaten (22), as well as extend our current club record of consecutive away wins (currently nine).
- County are the only side remaining in the competition yet to concede a goal.
