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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Evans is from Caersws

It has been confirmed that the trialist who came on as a striker for Hereford United was Graham Evans from Caersws.

Graham Turner will have seen him in action a couple of years ago when watching the Four-Nations tournament when it was held in Wales.

Evans is the son of former Wrexham favourite Mickey Evans, who was in the stands last night as a spectator.

Below is an edited report of the game which appears in this morning's Daily Post:

WREXHAM would have expected nothing less than the tough test they were given by Conference hosts Hereford at Edgar Street last night.

In January, Graham Turner's ambitious side went close to derailing the Dragons' journey to last season's LDV Vans Trophy final and, once again, there was plenty of cut and thrust in an entertaining and keenly contested clash.

Turner and his Racecourse counterpart Denis Smith took the opportunity to run the rule over a total of 37 players during the 90 minutes.

Alex Smith, who has impressed in Wrexham's previous two friendly outings, deputised for Andy Holt on the left flank against a United side featuring three close-season signings and several trialists.

It was former Chester City midfielder Jon Brady who struck first when he put Hereford ahead in the 13th minute.

Dennis Lawrence might have done a better job of intercepting Rob Purdie's cross, but the ball flew off his boot and Brady, a summer signing from Stevenage, volleyed past Mike Ingham.

And Wrexham - Lee Roche in particular - were caught ball-watching in the 25th minute when Brady's looping cross was firmly headed home by Adam Stansfield to double United's lead.

It was no more than the Conference side deserved, their pace and strength on the ball having caused the uncomfortable Dragons all sorts of problems. But the visitors stuck to their tried and tested methods and slowly began to force their opponents onto the back foot.

Darren Ferguson picked out Jon Walters, who drove a good effort narrowly wide, before Smith and Walters combined and Ferguson's shot brought a fine save from goalkeeper Craig Mawson.

It was Lee McEvilly who reduced the deficit four minutes before the break, driving a free kick from outside the area low into the corner of the net.

The striker went close to doubling his tally three minutes later, meeting Roche's cross to bring another impressive catch from Mawson.

Bulls' boss Graham Turner made four changes at the break, giving Welsh semi-pro international Evans his opportunity, but the visitors continued where they had left off, winning two early corners before substitute keeper Clint Davis got his first touch in holding Ferguson's shot.

Smith shuffled his pack on the hour, sending on five replacements including Maltese international goal-keeper Saviour Darmanin and teenage trialist Aaron Samuel, who scored both Wrexham goals at Colwyn Bay last week.

Inevitably the game dragged a little, but the Dragons continued to pose the greater threat with Dennis Lawrence just clearing the bar with one header before a McEvilly shot from 20 yards caused Davis some concern.

And Wrexham were on level terms after 72 minutes when Levi Mackin showed fine awareness to score from 25 yards after Davis had punched away under pressure from McEvilly.

But the home side finished strongly, providing Darmanin with a chance to show his skills in twice saving well from Evans.