Wrexham and Rochdale head for replay after goalless draw

Posted Sunday, November 10, 2019 by PA

Wrexham and Rochdale will both enter the draw for the second round of the FA Cup after their clash at the Racecourse Ground ended goalless.

Non-league Wrexham had the first chance of the game inside three minutes.

A mix-up between Eoghan O’Connell and Michael Williams provided an opportunity for Ben Tollitt, but he dragged his effort wide.

Tollitt went even closer moments later when a piercing run saw him evade the challenges of two players before firing a strike off the post.

On 20 minutes, Rochdale had their first opportunity of the game but Aaron Morley’s 25-yard free kick hit the side netting.

And, with five minutes of the half left, a good run by Rhys Norrington-Davies created space for Ian Henderson to deliver a cross but Matty Done’s effort was straight at Lainton.

Wrexham started the second half brightly as Paul Rutherford’s neat flick set up ex-Rochdale man Bobby Grant but his volley flew wide.

The visitors got a foothold in the half as full-back Jimmy Keohane tried his luck, but his effort was deflected wide.

The Red Dragons then came agonisingly close to an opener in the 71st minute when Pearson’s header from a Bobby Grant corner was acrobatically stopped by Robert Sanchez.

And Akil Wright almost won it at the death when his placed effort wrong-footed Sanchez but bounced back off the post.