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07
Thu, Nov

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WREXHAM were the party-poopers in South Yorkshire as they earned a 0-0 draw with a dogged defensive display to ruin Doncaster's 125th anniversary celebrations.


Dennis Lawrence made a surprise return from an ankle injury to inspire Wrexham to this hard-earned point.

The big Trinidad international and fellow defenders Brian Carey and Steve Roberts were outstanding for a Dragons side which had been leaking goals.

And Wrexham boss Dennis Smith said, "It wasn't really the way we normally played - we have conceded eight goals in the last three games - but we had to make sure we stopped that rot, which we did, and it was very solid.

"People have been critical of the young goalkeeper [Matt Baker], but once we got a strong side out he didn't have an awful lot to do.

"I was pleased in the end and I thought second half we probably edged it and were the better side."

Baker was the first goalkeeper into the action, diving at the feet of Chris Beardsley after he took advantage of hesitant defending on a long ball into the box.

Smith was forced into a chance after only 15 minutes when Trinidad international Sam limped off injured.

Hosts Doncaster continued to take the game to Wrexham early on. Beardsley fastened onto a long free kick into the Wrexham area and held off Roberts, but volleyed the game's best chance over the bar from eight yards out.

Two minutes later, Roberts had to react quickly to head behind under pressure from Fortune-West - and Rovers almost had the lead from the resulting corner.

Roberts had Wrexham's first meaningful effort on 38 minutes, but his volley was deflected wide.

From a left-wing corner five minutes into the second half, Wrexham had their best chance, but Dean Bennett, on for Sam, headed Holt's cross narrowly over Andy Warrington's goal.

Lawrence then glanced a header wide as Wrexham began to impose themselves from set-pieces, and Llewellyn broke forward, but his left-foot shot from the edge of the area was comfortably saved.

Lawrence got in the way of Fortune-West's header on 82 minutes, before Llewellyn muscled into the box late on but spurned a great chance to win the game by shooting wide.