Wrexham have been bumped off top spot in the Vanarama National League, but extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches.
The Dragons drew 1-1 against Maidstone United in Kent and, while they were disappointed by the result, manager Sam Ricketts was delighted with the team performance.
Substitute Brad Walker scored Wrexham’s equaliser after former Cardiff City midfield player Simon Walton, who was sent off twice in six loan appearances for the Bluebirds in 2007, had put the ‘Stones ahead.
Maidstone fans spent much of the game booing Mike Fondop, but that only seemed to galvanise the big striker.
Ricketts, like Newport’s Mike Flynn, talked about rumours linking him with the vacancy at Shrewsbury, saying: Nobody has phoned me and I am simply doing my job at Wrexham.
“That is to get this club as far as we can in the football structured keep improving on and off the pitch.”
Ricketts took charge of the Dragons this season and it’s his first job in management, which surely means he would be reluctant to move now.
Certainly the feeling around Wrexham FC, among staff and players, seems to be that Ricketts will be with the club for the foreseeable future.
Rumours spread this week that Ricketts had been at Shrewsbury Town’s ground, but that was untrue. He was involved in meetings at the Racecourse at the time social media posts said he was at the Shrews.
It was also suggested that Ricketts was not on the team bus heading to Maidstone, but that also proved to be untrue.
He was focused solely on Wrexham’s clash with an improving home team and said: “That’s 11 games without defeat and I was really pleased with our first half performance.
“You can’t guarantee results, but after going behind it was good to recover and earn a point. That will give the players belief and confidence.
“Maidstone improved after half-time, while we became a little frantic after conceding. But we are a good team when we pass the ball and deserved to take something away from the game.”
Wrexham dominated for long periods and really should have won, but things didn’t go their way. Shaun Pearson looked certain to score from Luke Summerfield’s free-kick, but mistimed his final touch a yard out and flicked the ball away from goal instead of into the net.
Pearson looked devastated by the close range miss, holding his head in his hands for a few seconds.
Midfield enforcer Walton, who was booked for a foul on Fondop, put then home team ahead with a shot from 30 yards which left goalkeeper Rob Lainton helpless, while substitute Brad Walker levelled the scores.
His shot, also from 30 yards, was speculative at best and would have been comfortably saved, but the ball struck team-mate Fondop. The goalkeeper went right, while the deflection sent Walker’s effort into the opposite corner.
Maidstone went ahead after 65 minutes when a headed clearance fell to Walton, who fired a fierce shot into the net from long range.
Walker’s equaliser after 71 minutes flew in after his shot changed direction after hitting Fondop and Wrexham returned to North Wales with a hard-earned point.
Fondop gave way to Stuart Beavon for the final few minutes, but even with four minutes of added time there were no more goals.
Wrexham slipped from top spot to third with Leyton Orient, who hit back from two goals down against Bromley to win, the new leaders.
📽 | The players are out!
🔴⚪️ #WeAreOneTeam pic.twitter.com/OpkcjFc7qM
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) November 17, 2018
Ricketts’ and his Dragons play Orient at the Racecourse in their next fixture – and that will be followed by their Emirates FA Cup second round tie against Newport County.
Maidstone United: Smith, McLennan, De Havilland, Finney, Powell (Muldoon 90), Romain, Paxman (Durojaiye 85), Turgott, Walton, Phillips (Swaine 55), Cassidy. Subs not used: Strizovic, Tajbakhsh.
Wrexham: Lainton, Roberts, Lawlor, Pearson, Jennings, Summerfield, Young, Wright (Walker 69), Rutherford (Maguire-Drew 66), Fondop (Beavon 88), Pyke. Subs not used: Dibble, Carrington.
Referee: Lloyd Wood (Essex)
Attendance: 2,626 (away 262)
Vanarama National League – top 10
| POS | TEAM | PL | PTS |
| 1 | Leyton Orient | 20 | 43 |
| 2 | Salford City | 20 | 42 |
| 3 | Wrexham | 20 | 42 |
| 4 | Solihull Moors | 20 | 39 |
| 5 | Harrogate Town | 19 | 37 |
| 6 | AFC Fylde | 20 | 35 |
| 7 | Sutton United | 19 | 34 |
| 8 | Gateshead | 20 | 33 |
| 9 | Eastleigh | 20 | 31 |
| 10 | Boreham Wood | 20 | 28 |