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Bryan’s Dragons On Course With Four Fixtures To Play

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Manager Bryan Hughes and his Wrexham team are ready hunt down a home tie in the Vanarama National League play-offs.

The Dragons, who won 3-1 at home against Braintree Town, are unlikely to win the title – which assures automatic promotion to the Football League – and will target finishing runners-up or third.

The clubs finishing in those position are guarantee a home tie in the play-off semi-finals, while the next four teams battle it out to join them in the last four.

Hughes was delighted after the success against Braintree in front of more than 4,200 spectators and said: “A massive win, especially on our current form.

Wrexham manager Bryan Hughes during the post-match press conference.

“We were in total control from the off. We conceded a sloppy goal, but it was a good win in the end.”

Wrexham have four fixtures left in the regular season – two at home plus two away – and their next test is at Barnet on Saturday.

“We’re strong at home and the fans play a big part in that – they were fantastic,” said Hughes. “We have another two games at the Racecourse, while we play Barnet away next week and that is a difficult place to go.

“But if we show the same commitment and desire, we’ll be full of confidence.”

Bobby Grant opened the scoring on his return to the team and, after Braintree equalised before the break, Shaun Pearson and Akil Wright scored second half headers to seal victory.

Wrexham remain fourth in the National League and won’t give up on hopes of winning the title, but they are an outside chance now.

“We are looking to earn four wins from the remaining four games,” said Hughes. “If you want to aim towards top spot we need to win all the games remaining.”

Hughes made four changes to the starting line up that lost 4-2 away at Ebbsfleet with Luke Young, Grant, Stuart Beavon and Chris Holroyd returning.

Kieran Kennedy replaced the injured Jake Lawlor after nine minutes.

Wrexham went ahead after 17 minutes after Grant won a free-kick inside the Wrexham half. The kick was taken by Young, Pearson won the header and drilled the ball across to Grant, who slotted home from 10 yards.

Braintree levelled the scores after 41 minutes when Wrexham failed to deal with a long throw and Korrey Henry smashed his shot into the roof of the net.

Pearson’s powerful header from Young’s corner put Wrexham ahead on the hour and Wright nodded in a third from a free-kick.

It was a crucial win for the Dragons – and with four matches left they have every chance of finishing the season on a high.

Wrexham: Lainton, Roberts, Pearson, Lawlor (Kennedy 9), Carrington, Wright, Young, Grant (Jennings 84), Holroyd, Beavon (Oswell 71), Rutherford. Subs not used: Dibble, McGlashan.

Braintree Town: Killip, Eleftheriou, Karic, Henry, Richards, Lyons-Foster, Matsuzaka (Borg 45), Sagaf (Smith 90), Atkinson, Allen (Cerulli 66). Subs not used: Temple, Eze.

Referee: Simon Mather (Greater Manchester)

Attendance: 4,221 (away 22)

Wrexham’s remaining Vanarama League fixtures

April

• Saturday 13 Barnet A

• Friday 19 Sutton United H

• Monday 22 FC Halifax Town A

• Saturday 27 Harrogate Town H

Vanarama National League

Team P GD Pts
1 Salford 42 30 79
2 Leyton Orient 41 34 78
3 Solihull Moors 42 27 78
4 Wrexham 42 17 75
5 Fylde 41 31 72
6 Harrogate 42 23 71
7 Eastleigh 41 -1 67
8 Ebbsfleet 42 20 66
9 Sutton United 42 0 64
10 Gateshead 41 9 63
11 Barrow 42 -1 57
12 Barnet 41 -4 56
13 Bromley 42 -3 55
14 Chesterfield 42 1 53
15 Halifax 42 -1 52
16 Hartlepool 42 -7 52
17 Maidenhead United 42 -22 50
18 Dag & Red 42 -7 49
19 Boreham Wood 42 -11 48
20 Dover 42 -12 48
21 Havant & Waterlooville 42 -17 39
22 Aldershot 42 -32 37
23 Braintree 42 -35 31
24 Maidstone United 41 -39 30

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