Black Country boy Sam Wedgbury insists Wrexham can put their ‘sloppy’ moments behind them and earn promotion to the Football League this season.
The Dragons are fourth in the Vanarama National League and Wedgbury, from Oldbury in the West Midlands, admits: “The title has gone.
“We have to cement the play-offs now. Too many draws have cost us this season and that’s sloppy on our behalf.
“The last minute goals we’ve conceded even at home have cost us ultimately so we’re disappointed.
“We still have something to play for, though, and it’s better than being lower down in the league, looking over your shoulder for relegation.
“We have to go again and I fancy us in the play-offs if we get there. If we have to play extra games we’ll deal with that because that’s the type of characters we are.”
Wrexham’s fading hopes of winning the title and earning the lone automatic promotion place available disappeared when they lost 1-0 against Boredom Wood at the Racecourse.
That result saw Wood jump above the Reds into third place.
That ended their 16-match unbeaten run, while leaders Macclesfield won 1-0 against Chester City at home and are now 13 points clear of Wrexham with five regular season matches remaining.
Referee Paul Marsden made a number of controversial decisions during the Wrexham v Boredom Wood match and Wedgbury said: “For their penalty the lad has just fallen to the floor and got it.
My booking was silly for my part in terms of my reaction, but it’s how frustrated you are when they are blatant decisions.
“They’re protected where as we have to come out now. We lose, we get pelted and have to face the music from the supporters.
“Officials should be able to come out and say why they’ve given decisions, or, if they have a bad game and they watch it back, come and be accountable for it.”
Boredom Wood’s penalty was awarded after 10 minutes when Manny Smith was adjudged to have bundled over a visiting forward and Bruno Andrade converted the resulting spot-kick.
Wrexham later had right-back Kevin Roberts sent off after an off-the-ball incident with Portuguese player Andrade.
Manager Andy Davies said: “I’ve seen the penalty decision back and it’s harsh if I’m honest. I don’t want to say too much about the officials because I think I might get into a little bit of trouble over it.
“With the sending off, there has obviously something gone on before. The referee and the other officials have seen it and what decision they’ve come to then I don’t know.
“It’s frustrating because Kevin’s been provoked a little bit there in terms of what’s happened.
“What he’s done after that I don’t know. The officials wouldn’t speak to us, but that’s no different.”
The next match for Wrexham is against Eastleigh away on Saturday and the North Walians badly need a big performance as they aim to clinch a play-offs place.
Wrexham: Dunn, Jennings, Smith, Pearson, Wedgbury, Quigley (Mackreth), Holroyd, Franks (Raven), Kelly, Roberts, Boden (Ainge). Subs not used: Rutherford, Wright
Boreham Wood: Smith, Smith, Woodards, Ricketts, Stephens, Shakes, Champion, Murtagh, Andrade, Turley, Ferrier. Subs not used: Harfield, Quigley, Folivi, Doe, Davey
Referee: Paul Marsden
Attendance: 4,746.
Wrexham FC’s remaining Vanarama National League fixtures
April
Saturday 7 Eastleigh v Wrexham (3pm)
Tuesday 10 Ebbsfleet v Wrexham (7.45pm)
Saturday 14 Wrexham v Dagenham and Redbridge (3pm)
Saturday 21 Leyton Orient v Wrexham (3pm)
Saturday 28 Wrexham v AFC Fylde (12.30pm)
National League Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | Macclesfield Town | 41 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 9 | 8 | 58 | 43 | 15 | 81 |
| 2. | Sutton United | 41 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 9 | 10 | 63 | 47 | 16 | 75 |
| 3. | Boreham Wood | 41 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 54 | 37 | 17 | 69 |
| 4. | Wrexham | 41 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 47 | 32 | 15 | 68 |
| 5. | Aldershot Town | 41 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 60 | 47 | 13 | 68 |
| 6. | Tranmere Rovers | 39 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 10 | 10 | 65 | 40 | 25 | 67 |
| 7. | AFC Fylde | 41 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 76 | 52 | 24 | 65 |
| 8. | Dover Athletic | 41 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 54 | 37 | 17 | 64 |
| 9. | Ebbsfleet United | 39 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 51 | 44 | 7 | 60 |
| 10. | Bromley | 39 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 63 | 47 | 16 | 59 |
| 11. | Dagenham and Redbridge | 40 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 59 | 52 | 7 | 58 |
| 12. | Eastleigh | 40 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 58 | 62 | -4 | 52 |
| 13. | Leyton Orient | 40 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 49 | 51 | -2 | 50 |
| 14. | Gateshead | 38 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 11 | 51 | 40 | 11 | 49 |
| 15. | Maidenhead United | 40 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 54 | 61 | -7 | 49 |
| 16. | Hartlepool United | 41 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 48 | 59 | -11 | 48 |
| 17. | FC Halifax Town | 40 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 42 | 51 | -9 | 47 |
| 18. | Maidstone United | 41 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 48 | 62 | -14 | 46 |
| 19. | Woking | 41 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 21 | 50 | 68 | -18 | 44 |
| 20. | Barrow | 39 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 44 | 53 | -9 | 41 |
| 21. | Solihull Moors | 40 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 40 | 53 | -13 | 41 |
| 22. | Torquay United | 40 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 21 | 38 | 63 | -25 | 37 |
| 23. | Chester | 41 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 34 | 67 | -33 | 31 |
| 24. | Guiseley | 39 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 34 | 72 | -38 | 29 |