Jack Muldoon fires Harrogate past Wrexham in FA Cup

Posted Monday, November 04, 2024 by PA

Veteran striker Jack Muldoon secured an FA Cup shock as Harrogate defeated Hollywood-backed Wrexham 1-0 in the first round.

The 35-year-old forward, who has not scored a goal in Sky Bet League Two all season, dumped out the higher-division Welsh outfit courtesy of a clinical first-half header. `

During a high-octane tie, Wrexham’s front two of Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin failed to convert a succession of early chances with efforts that either missed the target or did not unduly trouble home goalkeeper James Belshaw.

Instead, it was the Sulphurites that forged ahead with their first goal attempt of the contest in the 24th minute with Muldoon’s movement in the box going untracked by the Dragons defence and allowing him to glance a header past Arthur Okonkwo from six yards out following Stephen Duke-McKenna’s corner.

After the break, Belshaw did brilliantly to save from George Dobson following a three-on-one counter-attack by the visitors.

Duke-McKenna, meanwhile, drove narrowly wide at the other end after cutting in from the left flank before unmarked Wrexham substitute James McClean headed off target with the home goal at his mercy.

More Belshaw heroics saw him deny Iceland international Jon Dadi Bodvarsson a debut goal and fellow substitute Mo Faal’s 85th-minute header was ruled out by an offside flag as Harrogate held out for victory.