Wrexham 1, Halifax 0
’Sparky’ is on fire – and Dragons fans are simply adoring how their young Bluebird is leading their Vanarama National League charge.
Welshman Mark Harris, who signed for Wrexham on loan from Cardiff City this summer, has scored three goals for his new team already.
The Wales under-21 international, nicknamed ‘Sparky’, fired the wining goal against League leaders Halifax in front of more than 5,500 spectators at the Racecourse in North Wales.
The Shaymen arrived in Wrexham having opened their season with three successive wins – and they had scored seven goals netted by seven different players.
But they were shot down by 10-man Dragons thanks to a 78th minute strike by the 20-year-old hitman.
3 points, no better feeling. Buzzin to make my debut at the Racecourse, fans were unreal as always! Roll on Sunday… 🙌🏾🔴 pic.twitter.com/TMxLTOZ1Uw
— Jazzi Barnum-Bobb (@JazziBarnumBobb) August 13, 2019
Jake Lawlor was dismissed for a professional foul with 68 minutes gone – the second Dragons player sent off in two games – before Harris scored the winner.
Bobby Grant, sent off in the goalless draw at Cambridge on Saturday, started a three-match suspension and now Lawlor, too, is banned.
Manager Bryan Hughes made two changes from the side which had started the three previous matches – including a Wrexham debut for Jazzi Barnum-Bobb.
Leighton McIntosh also made his first Wrexham start, with Mark Carrington dropping to the bench and Grant suspended after the appeal against his Dover red card failed.
Goalkeeper Christian Dibble kept the scores level on 27 minutes, instinctively sticking out a strong hand when Jamie Allen’s low shot deflected off Pearson.
Wrexham were reduced to 10-men for the second consecutive match when Tobi Sho-Silva beat Lawlor to a long ball on 68 minutes and the defender tripped him, earning a red card for his professional foul.
The Dragons were forced into a reshuffle with Carrington replacing McIntosh and John Jennings moving to centre-back.
💬 MH | “Nice to get my first goal at the Racecourse”#WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/Og7v3oRTJF
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) August 13, 2019
Wrexham took the lead on 78 minutes after JJ Hooper kept the ball alive on the ground to find Paul Rutherford, who played Harris in and he dinked over goalkeeper Sam Johnson and into the far corner.
The Dragons stood firm – their first clean sheet of the season sealing all three points.
Wrexham: (4-2-3-1): Dibble, Barnum-Bobb, Pearson, Lawlor, Jennings, Summerfield, Young, McIntosh (Carrington 70), Redmond (Rutherford 76), Harris, Hooper (Oswell 89). Subs not used: Szczepaniak, Barton
FC Halifax Town: (4-4-1-1): Johnson, Duckworth, Clarke, Brown, Binnon-Williams, Allen, Staunton, Nolan, J.King (McAlinden 60), C.King, Sho-Silva (Odelusi 81). Subs not used: Appleyard, Earing, Hanson
Referee: Simon Mather (Manchester)
Attendance: 5,517 (away 307)