Wrexham dumped out of FA Cup first round by side a league below in stunning upset
Wrexham’s hopes of a surprise FA Cup run have ended at the first hurdle in a major upset. The Welsh side was dumped out of the first round by League Two side Harrogate Town as Jack Muldoon’s header helped the underdogs to a famous 1-0 win. Paul Mullin looks on after Wrexham was sent packing from the FA Cup by League Two side Harrogate TownGetty Muldoon flicked a delightful header past Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo in the 24th minute. Phil Parkinson’s side huffed and puffed throughout the second half in pursuit of an equaliser and thought they had one in the 85th minute. However, the linesman adjudged Mo Faal to be offside from a flick-on when he headed the ball into the back of the net. Despite Wrexham throwing the kitchen sink at Harrogate in the final stages and firing off 21 shots in total, the underdogs held firm and thwarted their rivals at every turn. Speaking after the contest, Parkinson was pleased with his side’s build-up play but lamented their inability to make it count. “We dominated the early exchanges, thought we played the approach play really good,” Parkinson said. “Lacked conviction in our crossing and our finishing to get that goal. Then we’ve conceded a goal from a set play which gave a team who are good at hanging in there, that’s what they do, they did it at our place last year, a backs-to-the-walls type team, and we gave them something to hang on to. “Second half, we pinned them in for practically the whole of the 45 minutes. Got cross after cross in, got in positions but couldn’t find that moment of quality. If we’re honest, the conviction in and around the box wasn’t what it needs to be. Did something fall for us or bounce off someone’s backside and drop to us, no. “The amount of approach play was good, the amount of crosses we got in, you’d expect something to fall for us. So we’ve got to look at ourselves. Was our movement dynamic in and around the box to justify getting a goal? “Like I said, a lot of the approach play was patient and it was good, but football is in and around the penalty box and that’s where games are won and lost.” Wrexham were eliminated from the FA Cup at the first hurdleGetty It was a monumental win for Harrogate, who sit 38 places below Wrexham in the English football pyramid. Harrogate have now made it to the second round for just the sixth time in club history, although they have accomplished the feat in the past four seasons. However, the Yorkshire outfit have never made it beyond the third round. As for Wrexham, the first round exit will no doubt be a bitter pill to swallow given how well they’d performed in the previous editions of the FA Cup. Parkinson’s side, famously owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, won legions of fans for their stunning run to the fourth round of the tournament in the 2022/23 campaign. The dazzling cup run included a memorable away victory over Championship side Coventry City in the third round Wrexham, who were in the National League at the time, were seconds away from making it into the fifth round but conceded in the 95th minute to draw against Sheffield United 3-3. Sadly for the Welsh side, their counterparts were simply too good in the replay as the Blades won 3-1 thanks to stoppage time goals from Billy Sharp and Sander Berge. Wrexham’s first round exit is a far cry from their impressive FA Cup performances over the last two seasonsGetty Wrexham quickly turn their focus back to League One action as they host fellow promotion contenders Mansfield Town on Saturday. As for Harrogate, they welcome last-placed Morecambe.
Wrexham’s hopes of a surprise FA Cup run have ended at the first hurdle in a major upset.
The Welsh side was dumped out of the first round by League Two side Harrogate Town as Jack Muldoon’s header helped the underdogs to a famous 1-0 win.
Muldoon flicked a delightful header past Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo in the 24th minute.
Phil Parkinson’s side huffed and puffed throughout the second half in pursuit of an equaliser and thought they had one in the 85th minute.
However, the linesman adjudged Mo Faal to be offside from a flick-on when he headed the ball into the back of the net.
Despite Wrexham throwing the kitchen sink at Harrogate in the final stages and firing off 21 shots in total, the underdogs held firm and thwarted their rivals at every turn.
Speaking after the contest, Parkinson was pleased with his side’s build-up play but lamented their inability to make it count.
“We dominated the early exchanges, thought we played the approach play really good,” Parkinson said.
“Lacked conviction in our crossing and our finishing to get that goal. Then we’ve conceded a goal from a set play which gave a team who are good at hanging in there, that’s what they do, they did it at our place last year, a backs-to-the-walls type team, and we gave them something to hang on to.
“Second half, we pinned them in for practically the whole of the 45 minutes. Got cross after cross in, got in positions but couldn’t find that moment of quality. If we’re honest, the conviction in and around the box wasn’t what it needs to be. Did something fall for us or bounce off someone’s backside and drop to us, no.
“The amount of approach play was good, the amount of crosses we got in, you’d expect something to fall for us. So we’ve got to look at ourselves. Was our movement dynamic in and around the box to justify getting a goal?
“Like I said, a lot of the approach play was patient and it was good, but football is in and around the penalty box and that’s where games are won and lost.”
It was a monumental win for Harrogate, who sit 38 places below Wrexham in the English football pyramid.
Harrogate have now made it to the second round for just the sixth time in club history, although they have accomplished the feat in the past four seasons.
However, the Yorkshire outfit have never made it beyond the third round.
As for Wrexham, the first round exit will no doubt be a bitter pill to swallow given how well they’d performed in the previous editions of the FA Cup.
Parkinson’s side, famously owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, won legions of fans for their stunning run to the fourth round of the tournament in the 2022/23 campaign.
The dazzling cup run included a memorable away victory over Championship side Coventry City in the third round
Wrexham, who were in the National League at the time, were seconds away from making it into the fifth round but conceded in the 95th minute to draw against Sheffield United 3-3.
Sadly for the Welsh side, their counterparts were simply too good in the replay as the Blades won 3-1 thanks to stoppage time goals from Billy Sharp and Sander Berge.
Wrexham quickly turn their focus back to League One action as they host fellow promotion contenders Mansfield Town on Saturday.
As for Harrogate, they welcome last-placed Morecambe.
