FINAL WHISTLE | Wrexham v Middlesbrough

0:02 [cheering]

0:12 The final score Rexham two, Middlesbrough two,

0:16 which combined by the fact that Hull managed to win means that we

0:21 didn't quite make it into the playoffs of the Premier League with good lords.

0:25 I mean, is that a sentence you thought we'd be saying at the end of the season?

0:29 An amazing season, then let's be realistic, the best season in our history.

0:35 We have never finished anywhere near this high up the second tier,

0:38 and we did, don't forget, also get into the last 16 of both cup competitions.

0:42 So, this has been a remarkable season of progress, and we go again next year.

0:47 So, well, so much look forward to.

0:50 But, this was a a big, big game,

0:52 and it took a side of the caliber of Middlesbrough,

0:54 I would say, to deny us, because again, we turned up on the big occasion.

0:58 Only one change, which was Ben Sheaf coming in on the bench for Louis Brunt.

1:03 As Middlesbrough needed to win to put pressure on Ipswich and keep

1:08 alive their hope of getting into the second automatic promotion place,

1:12 we needed to get a better result than Hull, essentially.

1:16 And there were spells where it looked good for us.

1:19 There were spells where we were in sixth place,

1:22 but ultimately, yeah, a goal by Ollie McBurnie,

1:26 of course, who has caused us problems on the pitch as well this season.

1:30 And which was borderline offside, it's got to be said.

1:34 They had a penalty, which was a foul on Gelhardt, no question about that.

1:39 And then a borderline offside, I think he's just on.

1:42 And to be fair, there can be no complaints.

1:44 It's it's tight, there's no VAR, can't complain about no VAR, can we?

1:49 So, fair enough.

1:50 But, it's cruel if he'd just gone that fraction earlier.

1:53 But, anyway, Rexham started fast, the crowd making great noise.

1:57 Ollie Ollie Rathbone, typically full of adrenaline,

2:01 everywhere in the first couple of minutes.

2:03 He breaks away superbly, and no one else can keep up with him, though.

2:06 So, he's got to have a go himself, and hits a shot from distance,

2:10 which forces a save out of Bren,

2:12 although admittedly a save that the Middlesbrough keeper would expect to make.

2:16 Then, he causes further problems by hooking the ball

2:19 into the goal mouth from the left-hand side of the box.

2:23 Malanda, the center-back,

2:25 tries to be calm and just cushion it back to his keeper,

2:28 Bren, but Bren is already on his way off his line.

2:32 And Malanda sends it the way in about off but sorry, beg your pardon.

2:36 So, Bren's off balance, does really well to correct himself,

2:40 stretch to his right, and make a fairly straightforward take.

2:43 If he'd taken again another little half step,

2:47 he probably wouldn't have got back,

2:48 or would have just been able to patty-cake it

2:49 into the goal mouth and see who got there first.

2:51 So, couple of little promising moments for Rexham,

2:54 but when it comes to decisive action,

2:57 Middlesbrough strike first and strike decisively,

3:00 taking the lead in the fourth minute.

3:01 A disappointing one for Rexham to concede.

3:03 Both the goals are Whittaker drops off down the right

3:07 and plays a clever little pass in behind the wing-back.

3:10 Britton runs in, gets past Thomason,

3:13 and drills across into the near post, a flat one.

3:17 And yeah, both Ward and Hyam attack it and don't make decisive contact.

3:22 Conway is lunging in with them.

3:23 It looks like it might just ricochet off Ward,

3:26 and Conway does really well to stretch beyond Hyam,

3:28 and prod it in agonizingly as slowly rolls towards goal and over the line,

3:33 and Middlesbrough have the lead.

3:35 It's not a pretty goal from Rexham's perspective, it's not aesthetic goal,

3:39 but it's not pleasingly aesthetic from anyone's perspective,

3:42 but credit to Tom Conway for getting in there and being

3:46 able to show enough desire to get onto the ball.

3:49 Rexham respond well to this, and we take control of the game.

3:55 Middlesbrough are moving the ball around at the back as they do,

3:58 they're comfortable in possession.

4:00 Uh they look to draw Rexham onto them and then ping diagonals,

4:03 and that is effective.

4:04 And down the flanks, they look dangerous,

4:06 especially when the wing-backs get high up the pitch.

4:09 And Conway's work rate was excellent as well down left.

4:13 But, it is Rexham who are on top, who are pressing,

4:16 and we force a lot of mistakes out of Middlesbrough in their own

4:20 half without necessarily coming up with much

4:24 which really leads to a direct opportunity.

4:26 There is a moment of hope for Rexham when James tries to play a through ball.

4:33 Malanda does well on the stretch to intercept it.

4:36 He can only prod it to Windass on the edge of the box,

4:39 and he drills in a shot which is deflected up in the air,

4:42 and the spin is kind for Bren again as it takes the pace off it,

4:46 too, and he's able to backpedal and catch it comfortably underneath the bar.

4:51 But, in the 28th minute, Middlesbrough dally too long again.

4:55 Luke Ayling is particularly guilty of this, and it's

4:58 his mistake in the 28th minute.

5:00 He has a poor touch.

5:02 Smith is so alert, nips back in, and draws contact from Ayling, a free kick.

5:08 And well, what can you say?

5:11 Josh Windass stepping up.

5:13 I mean, he's been in such good form,

5:15 and just rips the most glorious free kick into the top left corner.

5:19 There's no saving that.

5:20 Amazingly, Rexham's first free kick goal, direct from a free kick,

5:25 since Paul Mullin did that on New Year's Day 2024.

5:29 Remember the game when Fletcher scores a hat-trick against Barrow?

5:32 The other goal is from pretty much the same

5:34 spot and the similar type of strike by Mullin.

5:37 So, Rexham are equal, and crowd are roaring, pushing us on.

5:41 But, like I said, Middlesbrough do have

5:43 an out ball which they're working quite well.

5:46 And they forge an opportunity having won a corner.

5:50 The ball's swept in, awkward one for Ward,

5:53 who has to stretch over Scar, and punches it into the penalty area.

5:58 Conway puts it back in.

6:00 It ricochets around for a moment,

6:02 and then from close range, Strelec looks certain to score.

6:05 He's about 3 yd out.

6:06 Great work by Ward, he makes himself bigger and blocks it.

6:09 I've just been looking at the TV cartridge and coverage,

6:12 and they were sort of joking about, "Oh, it's an a clumsy save.

6:15 Oh, I suppose if you stop it, that will that's good enough." Yeah, exactly that.

6:20 Ward does really well.

6:22 It's a close-range chance, he shouldn't have a chance,

6:24 so he makes himself as big as possible just to make it difficult for Strelec,

6:29 and he can only prod it towards goal and hit Ward.

6:33 That's good goalkeeping.

6:34 Ward took control of the situation.

6:36 However, 6 minutes later,

6:39 he can do nothing about the goal that gives Middlesbrough I beg your pardon.

6:44 Oh, no, no, I beg your pardon.

6:45 6 minutes later, we go ahead.

6:47 Strike that from the records.

6:51 [laughter] 6 minutes later, as we push on, we go ahead.

6:53 Yeah, spoiler alert.

6:55 A poor pass out from the back by Targett,

6:57 intercepted and fed down the right-hand side.

6:59 And Kabore has been having a brilliant duel with Targett,

7:02 who clearly, you know, he's a high-class player on loan from Newcastle.

7:06 He's a quality full-back, and their duel is excellent.

7:09 Targett is good going forward, good defender,

7:11 but Kabore does beat him on occasion, and this one is spectacular.

7:15 When he gets it on the right, Morris comes across,

7:17 Kabore burns past him for great pace,

7:20 engages Targett, who closes the space down well,

7:23 so he's very close, and yet somehow Kabore manages,

7:26 straining himself to the extreme, to rip across him with pace to the near post.

7:31 And what a hell of a header from Sam Smith, his 10th of the season,

7:35 a sprinting and attacking the near post, perfect timing of his run.

7:39 But, it's coming a little bit behind him, and it's fast,

7:42 and he just does brilliantly to get his head on it and control that contact,

7:47 and just stretch and nod it in.

7:50 Brilliant header using the pace of the cross.

7:53 Fantastic goal by Smith, and Rexham are ahead at, you know,

7:57 4 minutes to the break.

7:58 The crowd is cock-a-hoop.

8:00 We're good value for that lead, and you're thinking, "Okay, this is it,

8:03 we can push on now." Not least because Ipswich are two up,

8:07 so Middlesbrough are clearly not going to get

8:09 into second place regardless of what happens in this match.

8:13 And you sort of say, "Oh, go on, Middlesbrough, cave in a bit.

8:17 Take your best players off, prepare them for the playoffs." But, Middlesbrough

8:21 are made of sterner stuff than that.

8:23 And within 2 minutes, that goal that I gave away a moment ago happens.

8:27 It's it's too easy from Rexham's perspective.

8:29 Conway has it by the corner flag, pulls it back to Targett.

8:33 Targett's got plenty of time to measure his cross.

8:36 It's a good ball in.

8:38 There's a nice little run by Brown from the penalty spot out towards Targett,

8:44 and Hyam, the right-sided center-back, has got to pick him up.

8:46 So, Hyam comes across,

8:48 and that leaves a gap between him and the two remaining center-backs,

8:51 Scar in the middle and Doyle beyond him.

8:55 [snorts] And Strelec runs in between the two on Scar's blind side,

8:58 and has a simple volley,

9:00 which he controls nicely past Ward, who has absolutely no chance.

9:03 But, again, it's frustrating.

9:04 Conway's given time to deliver, and then in the box,

9:09 Strelec is able to come in, and he's got time and an easy finish.

9:12 And it's a poor goal to concede from Rexham's perspective.

9:15 But, at the break, it's 2-2, and we are we are right in there.

9:22 Middlesbrough make chances in the second half,

9:24 and you got to say that on the break,

9:27 even though actually neither side scored in the second half,

9:30 I thought Middlesbrough ought to have done on the balance of play.

9:33 But, we should have done as well with some of the chances we've made,

9:35 but Middlesbrough did really look very efficient when they were coming forward.

9:39 Some couple of minutes after the break, they had an opportunity,

9:43 really nice patient passing, dropped forcing us back to the edge of our area.

9:46 McGree has come on at half-time,

9:48 key midfielder for them, but coming back from injury.

9:51 Maybe because, you know, surely with an eye on the playoffs,

9:54 bringing him on so soon.

9:56 He pings a lovely rolled pass into the D and Whitaker

9:59 has been in great form lately has a really poor touch.

10:03 If he has a decent touch on that, he's got a clear sight

10:05 of goal from just inside the box and centrally and we're in major trouble.

10:09 But his touch lets him down.

10:12 We try to battle back.

10:14 Rutherford does well to win the ball back in the Middlesbrough half.

10:17 Although that happens less in the second half and Middlesbrough learn from what

10:21 we're doing in the first half and a bit more careful on the ball.

10:25 The ball is swept in by Kabore.

10:29 Smith gets up with a header about 6 yards out

10:31 but Doyle's jumping as well and he heads it against Doyle.

10:34 It drops loose and Smith off balance manages

10:38 to swing his foot out of it from 6 yards

10:40 out and hit a floaty effort which I'm going

10:44 to say is on another day might just have

10:46 been enough to stretch over Bren but Bren is

10:48 A a very good goalkeeper and B a very tall goalkeeper and he's able to step back

10:53 and and catch it very very simply under the bar.

10:57 We keep going up.

10:58 A couple of minutes later we're uh pressuring again.

11:02 Dobson helping the ball on to Rathbone.

11:04 He carries it to the edge of the box with a lovely little one-touch

11:07 one-two with Smith and hits a powerful shot aiming for the bottom right corner.

11:13 Doesn't quite find it though which allows Bren to get

11:15 down sharply and parry it and then gather the ball.

11:19 Middlesbrough come back though and in the lead up to sort of 5

11:22 minutes before the hour mark they have opportunities to go ahead once more.

11:27 Good switch by Whitaker to the left.

11:29 Conway does so well driving down the flank and then pulling

11:34 the ball back and it looks like a great chance for McAtee.

11:39 Superb work from Matthew James who has tracked him back.

11:42 Hasn't got to him quite but from the wrong side sliding from behind

11:46 and gets a brilliant tackle in to put it behind for a corner.

11:50 That corner is cleared but as Middlesbrough keep penning us

11:53 in Morris finds Ealing who tries to speculate a shot

11:56 from distance but he puts it well off target

11:58 and then a couple of minutes later more danger from Conway.

12:02 Morris feeding it down the left.

12:03 Conway not Conway I just said then he's not a Welsh Castle.

12:07 Beats Tyrese Dyce really well down the left-hand

12:09 side and and pulls the ball back again.

12:12 Looks like so much danger.

12:13 This time Britton is the player who's unmarked around the penalty spot and again

12:17 James does so well reads the danger intercepts and gets the ball clear.

12:22 We're needing a change and Phil Parkinson's

12:27 not shy of course of making those changes.

12:29 Rathbone has taken a knock around

12:32 the hour mark in the Middlesbrough penalty area

12:35 and he has to go off and so he is replaced by Ben Sheaf.

12:39 Great to see him back on the pitch and also Dobson is

12:43 replaced by Nathan Broadhead who is so lively when he comes on.

12:48 Fair play to him.

12:49 Really does well energetically looking to prompt things

12:53 and we've now got the Windass Broadhead pair and we

12:55 go more to a box and we are looking to to push [snorts] on with more creativity.

13:01 The first save or opportunity comes for Middlesbrough after the changes.

13:06 McAtee slotting a nice little pass down the left channel.

13:09 Struthers looks to be in on goal but Ward's

13:12 quick off his line to get there first.

13:15 With 17 minutes left we make further changes.

13:17 We change our shape.

13:18 Dan Spark comes off.

13:20 We're going to go to four at the back and throw more attacking players on.

13:24 Kabore takes a knock as well sadly so

13:26 his season ends as he limps off after treatment.

13:30 Ryan Longman comes on for him.

13:31 Keiffer Moore comes on up front so we've now got two up front

13:35 and essentially a 4-4-2 but with the two wide men 4-2-4 almost with Windass

13:42 and Broadhead the two wide men but tucking in and trying to get

13:45 in there and give support or maybe a 4-2-2-2 you might want to call it.

13:50 We are leaving ourselves open again up

13:52 for the counter and Middlesbrough make more chances.

13:56 Britton with a nice ball inside.

13:58 Conway helps it on to the left and when

14:02 the ball is fed inside it's a dangerous dangerous moment.

14:08 It ricochets to substitute Leo Castledine.

14:12 Close in it looks like he's certain to score

14:14 but Ward's does brilliantly to come out make a huge save.

14:19 He's off balance.

14:20 Castledine takes a touch when maybe he shouldn't

14:22 have done and Ward's anticipating an earlier shot

14:24 but no matter off balance he still manages

14:26 to get a block on it from point-blank range.

14:29 The ball spins loose and Castledine still looks like he's going to score.

14:32 Doyle does brilliantly lunging in on the goal line

14:34 and making a fabulous block to send the ball clear.

14:38 But there is continued danger as a free kick is swept in by Target.

14:45 Ealing attacking it 15 yards out gets a glancing contact

14:49 on it and puts it wide of the top right corner.

14:52 A little bit more on that and the pace on that free

14:54 kick probably would have sent it whistling into the top right corner.

14:58 With 7 minutes left it's kitchen sink time so Matthew James had

15:01 an excellent game comes off because we need more and more attacking players.

15:05 Davies Keillor-Dunn comes on.

15:08 And again we are uh uh able [clears throat] to to keep pushing.

15:13 We start now to make opportunities.

15:16 Broadhead does well down the left.

15:18 Pulls the ball back for Windass and he clips a nice ball into the area.

15:23 Smith just outside the 6-yard box stretching for it just mistimes an attempted

15:27 scissors volley and hits it into the ground and it spins harmlessly up.

15:33 But we're starting to ask questions.

15:35 Four minutes left now and it's a huge huge huge huge moment.

15:42 Corner to Middlesbrough swept in.

15:44 Smith at the near post heads it clear.

15:46 Broadhead outstanding work.

15:48 Picks her up in his own area and just runs and runs and runs.

15:51 But it's not just runs.

15:53 I'm just trying to say he covers a hell of a lot

15:55 of ground cuz he carries it to the goal line at the other end.

15:58 It's a superb run in terms of his energy and pace but it's

16:03 also more than just running because he's very aware of what's inside him.

16:07 No one's keeping up with him except for Thomason

16:10 who makes a run to the far post.

16:11 Broadhead gets what within 5 yards of the goal line turns

16:16 around to straighten up his marker and then he's really patient.

16:20 He knows what he's expect he's waiting for.

16:22 Windass is making his way and when so having stood up his defender he

16:27 fakes to take him on and then rolls a perfect ball back for Windass

16:32 central 15 yards out no pressure on him and I puts her over

16:37 and it's such a shame that isn't it cuz Windass has been outstanding game

16:41 player of the season that um and recently his finishing's been great

16:45 and regardless of his form he is just the exactly the player you want

16:51 in that area partly because of his technique

16:53 partly because ice runs through his veins

16:57 but yeah on this occasion he drills it and puts it a yard over.

17:01 Oh it's a huge opportunity.

17:03 It isn't the last one though.

17:04 89th minute Wrexham pushing on again.

17:07 Broadhead again doing well down the left-hand side.

17:10 Switches intelligently for Longman in space.

17:12 He plays a clever little pass inside

17:14 to Keillor-Dunn and Keillor-Dunn 10 yards out

17:17 cuts inside well to make an angle for a shot and you're thinking oh wow

17:20 this will be quite a quite a way to mark your comeback to the club

17:24 but it's a really good block as he tries to strike it in on goal.

17:28 Then Longman rips in a good ball from the right-hand side and Sheaf

17:32 is unmarked on the far side of the box 10 yards out.

17:35 It's he's got a lot of time and of course a lot of quality and again cruelly he

17:39 slips just as the ball arrives and falls

17:42 and therefore we're not able to take advantage of it.

17:45 And then there's another opportunity when Doyle does well makes

17:49 an excellent tackle as Middlesbrough are trying to break away.

17:51 Moore helps the ball on down the left.

17:53 It's a bit overhead.

17:55 Thomason does well to keep her in but he

17:57 also manages to drill a tremendous ball into the far

18:00 post and Smith is 6 yards out but he has to take a touch it just and it

18:05 gets slightly stuck under his feet and as a result

18:08 when he does hit it Target has done excellently to come in from outside the line

18:12 of the post lunge and make a huge huge block.

18:15 We keep going.

18:17 Second minute of five added.

18:19 Thomason sweeps in a corner to the far post.

18:22 Doyle gets it brilliantly heads it into the edge of the 6-yard box.

18:25 Moore heads it towards goal but it's an easy catch for Bren.

18:28 It's a difficult header for Moore.

18:30 There's not much pace on it.

18:31 It's arriving a bit high.

18:33 And then the last act of the match and indeed

18:35 of the season right at the end of those fifth five added minutes.

18:39 Broadhead again lively breaking through the middle

18:43 feeding in Moore down that left channel.

18:45 He takes it on at a tightish angle but we

18:48 saw what he did against Leicester Coventry this season.

18:50 He goes for power but it goes over and and he heroic efforts both in the match

18:56 and in the season are over but in both contexts a team to be proud of.

19:02 The best team empirically speaking Wrexham has ever had.

19:07 [sighs and gasps] And we'll go again next year.

19:09 A superb effort.

19:10 Thank you all everyone for your support of the club and and thanks

19:14 to those of you been watching the the podcast as well.

19:17 It's been a pleasure to bring them to see you this season.

19:20 And next season well let's just let's just

19:22 crack on and make it back-to-back-to hiatus to back.

19:31 [cheering] [cheering] Wrexham