Match Preview: Weymouth v Wrexham – Tuesday 26th April 2022 – 19:45
Weymouth host Wrexham at the Bob Lucas Stadium, in what is set to be a crucial fixture for both sides at both ends of the table. Weymouth know that defeat will see them relegated to the National League South. As for Wrexham, a win could push them closer towards automatic promotion, the spot currently held by Stockport County. In front of the cameras and the Bob Lucas crowd, it is set up to be an intriguing affair.
THE TERRAS
A 3-1 defeat to Notts County at the weekend at Meadow Lane means that Weymouth, with 5 games left to play and a 13-point gap to Aldershot Town, are, sadly, on the brink of relegation from the National League. The permutations are that a defeat at the Bob Lucas Stadium would see Weymouth relegated from the National League. Also, if Aldershot can pick up at least a point away to Bromley this evening, and Weymouth fail to secure victory, the Terras will be relegated. It’s a situation that David Oldfield’s side will want to avoid tonight, to keep their fight to stay in this division continue. Weymouth can take some encouragement that they are unbeaten and haven’t conceded in their last two home games, with 0-0 draws against Grimsby Town and Yeovil Town. The Terras will need an even stronger level of performance to be able to really take the game to Wrexham this evening, who will be strong favourites to grab three points.
Manager David Oldfield spoke following our defeat to Notts County on the prospect of facing Wrexham:
“Whatever, whoever, whenever we play again, it’s going to be a big game for us, we just need to recover the best we can. We have a sizable group of players but a sizable injury list. We have one or two who are playing through pain in recent games. But we look forward to Tuesday, we need to make sure we do ourselves justice and we go again.”
LAST SIX
NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 TERRAS
TERRAS 0-0 YEOVIL TOWN
MAIDENHEAD UNITED 2-0 TERRAS
TERRAS 0-0 GRIMSBY TOWN
TORQUAY 3-0 TERRAS
WOKING 2-0 TERRAS
Weymouth currently sit 22nd in the table with 24 points from 39 games
THE RED DRAGONS
Phil Parkinson’s side’s recent 15 game unbeaten run in all competitions came to a halt on Saturday as Darren Sarll’s Woking side defeated Wrexham 2-1 at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Despite defeat, Wrexham have proven to be a very threatening side, with a couple of recent winning runs within the 15 game unbeaten period, which began in February. Wrexham are the second highest scorers in the league and have their eyes on closing the gap between themselves and leaders Stockport County in the race for promotion to the EFL. Wrexham currently have the fifth best away record in the league, with a game less on those above, with currently 10 wins from 19 away matches plus three draws and six defeats. A win today would help them on the way to closing the gap to Stockport, following that missed opportunity at the weekend against Woking.
Player to Watch: Paul Mullin
Mullin has scored seven goals in his last six games for Wrexham in all competitions highlighting himself as a real threat to the Weymouth back line. With 22 goals for the season, he is just two behind current Golden Boot leader Kabongo Tshimanga, and will be eyeing up this fixture to add to his tally.
LAST SIX
WOKING 2-1 WREXHAM
WREXHAM 4-0 ALTRINCHAM
WREXHAM 1-1 SOLIHULL MOORS
WREXHAM 3-2 EASTLEIGH
WREXHAM 6-0 BARNET
WREXHAM 2-0 STOCKPORT COUNTY (FA TROPHY)
Wrexham currently sit 2nd in the league with 78 points from 39 games
@TerraStatman’s Facts of the Match
Our first ever meeting was a 1-3 home loss in a pre-season friendly in 1998. Weymouth had just been promoted back in the Southern League Premier division and the visitors were in league division 2 (now League 1). Therefore there was a three-division gap between the sides. The Wrexham manager at the time, Brian Flynn, heaped “high praise” on how Weymouth played that day.
We have met five more since, initially in the Conference National league in 2008/09. At that time Wrexham had just dropped out of the football league for the first time since being elected in 1921. Our first match-up that year was on 15th November. The game itself was a feisty one with five Weymouth players booked and former player Jefferson Louis scoring after 15 mins for the visitors. The Terras tried valiantly to get back into the game but succumbed to two late goals in two mins with only a Beavon consolation goal as proof of their efforts.
Our away game at the Racecourse Ground in 2009 was our last game as this level before last season. On that occasion Weymouth had already been relegated but the team showed “plenty of spirit”, cheered on by a reported 87 fans who had made the 500 mile/9 hour round trip who gave the team a standing ovation at the end. We may have left the Conference National only to return in 2020 but for Wrexham, this is their 12th consecutive season in the same division!
Last season our first encounter started brilliantly as we went a goal to the good inside three minutes through McQuoid before McCarthy added another before the half hour, but our dream start turned into a nightmare, as the away side scored three times in the last 20 minutes including a 95th minute winner just after we had been reduced to 10 men. The return fixture in March was a gallant 0-2 loss and we fared slightly better in Wales in December of this season in a gritty 0-1 reverse.
TICKET INFORMATION
Matchday tickets are available to buy by clicking here.
This game is also being live-streamed this evening, match passes are £10.
