THE misery continued for the Dragons on Saturday as they slumped to a third Blue Square Premier defeat in succession without scoring.
While boss Dean Saunders can point to the season-ending injury to Marc Williams as one reason why Wrexham cannot buy a goal, that cannot excuse their display against a Kettering side whose own hopes of a play-off place are also over.
Even though Saunders said on the eve of the trip to Rockingham Road that he was planning a summer overhaul of his top-heavy squad, too many players failed to take their chance to persuade him that they are worthy of a place in his plans.
One notable exception was 18-year-old goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, who prevented the Poppies from adding to Ryan Charles’ third-minute winner.
“It was shocking,” admitted Saunders, who, mainly because of injury and suspension, once again rotated his team, making five changes to the one that started against Altrincham.
“In recent games we have not had the rub of the green with chances missed and late goals conceded. But that wasn’t the case here, we just didn’t do enough.”
With confidence low after a run of just three goals and five points from their previous eight games, the last thing the Dragons needed to do was concede early. But that was exactly what they did as on-loan Luton Town striker Charles held off Ashley Westwood and fired in.
Maxwell then made the first of a number of good stops as he kept out Chris Beardsley’s header from Nick Eaden’s free kick.
Jefferson Louis wasted a good opportunity to equalise before substitute Tom Kearney, in his first appearance since December, shot narrowly wide.
But that was as close as they came despite spells of concerted second-half pressure.
There was some good news for Wrexham on Saturday as their rising stars won their last Puma Youth Alliance North West Conference game of the season at home to Accrington Stanley 3-0.
Goals from Mark Head, Jordan Kane and Matty Hurdman mean the Dragons will finish in top spot if second-placed Burnley fail to win three of their final four matches.
