GARETH Taylor’s third goal of the season secured a vital three points for Wrexham on Tuesday night – but it was a close-run victory against a Minstermen side that battled to the end.
Taylor, captain in the absence of Ashley Westwood, struck just before the hour to convert what was the only genuine chance that came his way and underlined just what an astute summer signing he was for manager Dean Saunders.
And once former Dragons goalkeeper Mike Ingham picked the ball out his net, Saunders’ side might have gone on to win more comfortably but for the ex-Northern Ireland international.
Saunders, delighted to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Crawley Town, said: “It was important we won after Saturday and we looked comfortable.
Wrexham, with Silvio Spann and Sam Williamson in for Curtis Obeng and Adrian Cieslewicz, were on the back foot early on and would have fell behind in the first minute had it not been for a Sam Russell stop from Michael Gash.
The hosts responded well to York’s refreshing approach and Matty Wolfenden twice went close, before Alex Lawless tested Russell a minute before the break.
Ingham pulled off an equally important save in added time to deny Neil Taylor but he could to stop an offside-looking Gareth Taylor from settling the contest in the 59th minute with a fine header from Andy Fleming’s pass.
Cieselewicz, an impressive 57th-minute replacement for Wolfenden, and Mark Jones then went close to doubling the advantage only to be denied by Ingham.
The Dragons, who are ninth in the early Blue Square Premier table, host Kettering Town on Saturday (3pm) before heading to Tamworth on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Wrexham youth team coach Stuart Webber has accepted an offer from Premier League giants Liverpool to join their Academy as a senior scout.
Wrexham are to receive at least £50,000 following the transfer of Wales international Neal Eardley from Oldham Athletic to Blackpool. The 20-year-old defender made the switch to the Tangerines on the eve of the Championship season for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £200,000-£300,000. The Dragons inserted a 25% sell-on clause when Eardley left their Centre of Excellence to join League One’s Oldham.