Former Bluebird Jobi Crushes Dragons’ Hopes

Former Cardiff City winger Jobi McAnuff played a key role in ending Wrexham hopes of promotion back to the Football League.

The Dragons will cling on to mathematical hopes of clambering into the top seven and earning a play-off spot, but realistically they can start planning for another Vanarama National League season.

Wrexham’s 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient has left them down and just about out in terms of going up.

Club directors can now turn to the task of finding a new manager with Cardiff City coach and former player Craig Bellamy among those being linked with the vacancy.

Craig Bellamy has been linked with the Wrexham FC managerial vacancy. Pic: Getty Images.

The only goal at Orient came when McAnuff, whose silky touch and pace has graced the Premier League, created space for himself and fired in a delightful cross which Macauley Bonne headed home on the half hour.

McAnuff is now aged 36, but he is still an effective force at National League level and gave everything for an aggressive Leyton Orient team at Brisbane Road.

Wrexham failed to create even one clear opportunity and can have no complaints about missing out on promotion.

They have earned only six points from 24 on offer since manager Dean Keates left to take over home town club Walsall and first team coach Andy Davies took charge at the Racecourse.Wrexham have one League game left – against Fylde at home – and they still have an outside hope of sneaking into the top seven, but they are relying on rivals slipping up.

They are now 10th after suffering a fourth defeat in five games, while Orient moved up to 13th thanks to their win.

Defender Kevin Roberts returned to the Reds’ starting line-up after completing his three-match suspension with David Raven dropping to the bench.

Manager Andy Davies. Pic: Wrexham FC.

Wrexham had to win. They dared not fail at Barnet, but they were beaten by a home team who had the edge over the 90 minutes.

Both teams set up in 4-4-2 formations, while Wrexham switched to 4-2-1-3 as they chased the game with Scott Quigley, Paul Rutherford and Scott Boden leading the charge.

Sam Wedgbury was tireless in his efforts to fire up the Welsh team, but dreams of playing in the Football League next season are all but over.

The only goal came when James Jennings lost possession in midfield, McAnuff burst away and drove in a pinpoint cross. Bonne finished with his head to score his 20th goal of the season.

Around 300 Wrexham fans made the trip to Barnet and they made a lot of noise in support of their team.

The departure of Keates to Walsall was a major blow for Wrexham at a time when they were pressing hard for promotion and now club directors must make the right decision to find a long-term replacement.

Former Wrexham manager Dean Keates is now in charge at Walsall. Pic: Getty Images.

Davies, Carl Darlington, Stephen Wright and former Cardiff City goalkeeper Michael Oakes were the management team over the last eight games.

Former Chester City midfield player Gary Brabin, currently coaching at Port Vale, Bellamy ex-Connah’s Quay Nomads player Adam Owen, who has been managing Lechia Gdansk in Poland and Wigan Athletic first team coach Anthony Barry have all been linked with the Wrexham job.

Craig Davies, former manager of The New Saints, is also available after leaving Hartlepool.

Bellamy is awaiting the right chance to start his managerial career, but Brain, aged 47, would appear to be among the favourites. He has experience of National League management with Cambridge United, Luton Town, Southport and, most recently Tranmere Rovers.

Leyton Orient (4-4-2): Brill; Ling, Ekpiteta, Happe, Judd; McAnuff, Clay, Adams (Mooney 73), Brophy (Lee 91); Koroma, Bonne. Subs: Grainger, Clayden, Reynolds.

Wrexham (4-4-2): Dunn; Roberts, M Smith, Pearson, Jennings; Mackreth (Wright 67), Wedgbury, Kelly, Rutherford, Boden (Ainge 72), Quigley. Subs: Dibble, Raven, Deverdics.

Referee: Sam Allison (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 5,166 (655 away)

National League Table

# Team Pl HW HD HL AW AD AL W D L F A Diff Pts
1. Macclesfield Town 45 12 7 3 14 4 5 26 11 8 65 46 19 89
2. Tranmere Rovers 44 15 2 4 9 8 6 24 10 10 76 42 34 82
3. Sutton United 45 11 6 5 11 4 8 22 10 13 65 52 13 76
4. Aldershot Town 45 11 7 5 9 8 5 20 15 10 63 50 13 75
5. AFC Fylde 45 11 9 3 9 3 10 20 12 13 82 56 26 72
6. Boreham Wood 45 11 5 6 8 10 5 19 15 11 61 46 15 72
7. Dover Athletic 45 12 5 6 7 8 7 19 13 13 60 43 17 70
8. Ebbsfleet United 44 11 7 5 7 9 5 18 16 10 58 47 11 70
9. Bromley 44 10 7 5 9 5 8 19 12 13 73 53 20 69
10. Wrexham 45 10 9 3 7 9 7 17 18 10 49 39 10 69
11. Dagenham and Redbridge 45 13 3 7 6 8 8 19 11 15 69 60 9 68
12. Maidenhead United 44 10 6 6 5 7 10 15 13 16 59 64 -5 58
13. Leyton Orient 44 8 6 8 7 6 9 15 12 17 55 54 1 57
14. Gateshead 44 8 8 5 4 10 9 12 18 14 59 50 9 54
15. FC Halifax Town 45 9 6 8 4 9 9 13 15 17 48 58 -10 54
16. Eastleigh 45 6 11 6 6 6 10 12 17 16 61 71 -10 53
17. Hartlepool United 45 7 6 10 6 8 8 13 14 18 51 62 -11 53
18. Maidstone United 45 6 8 8 7 6 10 13 14 18 52 64 -12 53
19. Solihull Moors 44 8 7 7 5 5 12 13 12 19 46 55 -9 51
20. Barrow 44 4 10 8 7 5 10 11 15 18 50 61 -11 48
21. Woking 45 9 5 8 4 4 15 13 9 23 54 74 -20 48
22. Torquay United 44 5 5 11 5 6 12 10 11 23 41 68 -27 41
23. Chester 45 5 5 13 2 8 12 7 13 25 40 78 -38 34
24. Guiseley 44 3 9 11 3 3 15 6 12 26 39 83 -44 30

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