Wrexham AFC 1 V Leyton Orient 2 – Match Report

18/02/25 – Racecourse Ground – SkyBet League One

Attendance: 11,703 – 567 travelling Os fans

Team Sheets:

Wrexham AFC: Howard, Cleworth, O’Connell, Brunt, Barnett, McClean, Dobson, James, Rathbone, Smith, Rodriguez

Subs: Okonkwo, Cannon, Fletcher, Longman, Marriott, Revan, Scarr

Leyton Orient: Keeley, Sweeney, Simpson, Happe, Galbraith, Brown, Pratley, Williams, Donley, Perkins, Kelman

Subs: Phillips, Abdulai, Agyei, Ball, Edmonds-Green, Jaiyesimi, Markanday

1) The Os kick off proceedings on a chilly Tuesday night in North Wales.

14) GOAL! A deep corner into the Orient box from James McClean found the unmarked Ollie Rathbone at the back post, he escaped Sonny Perkins to latch onto a first timed finish that found its way into the back of the net.

Wrexham 1 Orient 0

20) The home side are starting to pile on the pressure, creating opportunities whilst forcing Orient back in their own half. 

30) GOAL! Orient started to grow into the game over the past five minutes. Darren Pratley picks out Charlie Kelaman, with his back to goal he turns and drags his effort in off the post bringing the O’s level.

Wrexham 1 Orient 1

45+2) Randell Williams bursts forward directly down the left flank and is subsequently cleaned out by George Dobson who receives the first yellow card of the match.

Half-Time) A tightly contested first half has seen Orient have more of the possession but Wrexham have been very direct, looking dangerous from set pieces and sending balls into the box.

45) Wrexham get the second half underway, no changes made by either team. 

50) The O’s have made a bright start early in the second half, forcing a couple of corners and getting into some dangerous attacking positions. 

50) GOAL! Galbraith sends a corner into the box which is headed back out by the Wrexham defence. The ball landed at the feet of Jamie Donley who struck the ball cleanly first time on the volley which nestled into the bottom left corner beyond Mark Howard.

Wrexham 1 Orient 2

60) The O’s make their first change of the game. Jack Simpson who was struggling with a knock was replaced by Edmonds-Green. 

63) A few whistles from the home crowd who are growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of chances their side have created.

64) Double substitution for Wrexham, Off Jay Rodriguez & Dobson – On Steven Fletcher & Andy Cannon.

70) Orient double switch, Off Perkins & Williams – On Dan Agyei & Azeem Abdulai.

74) Fletcher is booked for Wrexham for arguing with the referee. 

75) Wrexham substitution, Off McClean – On Ryan Longman.

77) Abdulai enters the book for kicking the ball away.

78) Pratley was also booked for a cynical foul. Wrexham had a free kick in a dangerous position around 25 yards away from goal. Fletcher’s strike deflected off the Orient wall for a corner, which came to nothing. 

81) Orient substitution, Off Kelman – On Dom Ball

82) Wrexham substitution Off Eoghan O’Connell

83) Agyei drove towards the Wrexham box with the defence backing off, he took a low shot from twenty yards out which troubled Howard who scrambled the ball away for an Orient corner. 

86) How has Abdulai not scored there! He sent the defenders and keeper to the floor, but somehow failed to slot home into a near enough empty net from inside the six yard box, an extraordinary miss!

Wrexham counter-attacked up the other end and Pratley brought down Marriott, which resulted in a second yellow card for the thirty nine year old. Orient down to 10 men.

90+8) The fourth official indicated a minimum of eight minutes of added on time. Orient having to defend for their lives with ten men.

90+7) Wow what a defensive header by Dom Ball that was! An excellent cross into the Orient box looked destined for Fletcher at the back post and Dom Ball put his head on the line, clearing the ball away for a corner, denying an almost certain goal-scoring opportunity for Wrexham.

Full Time Wrexham AFC 1 Leyton Orient 2

An extraordinary game of football that had it all, goals, a red card and a comeback from Orient that gives them a massive three point lead in the play off positions.

Leyton Orient Player Ratings:

Keeley: 7

Sweeney: 6

Simpson: 6

Happe: 9* MOTM

Galbraith: 8

Brown: 7

Pratley: 6

Williams: 6

Donley: 8

Kelman: 8

Perkins: 6

Substitutions:

Edmonds-Green: 7

Agyei: 6

Abdulai: 5

Dom Ball: 8

By Jaden Christy