International Friendly
The Racecourse, Wrexham
Admission: £25.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 10,008
As I close in on completing the 92, much aided by being more on the road for my work now, the Racecourse was one ground I feared I would struggle to tick off, with virtually all of their games sold out before reaching general sale. But when this game was announced earlier in the year, I knew that this would be my best chance to visit any time soon, and an opportunity to see the Welsh national team is always appealing for me, having a soft spot for the country having studied at university there, and learning the Welsh language currently.
From my hotel base near to Crewe, it was about an hour's drive over the border, managing to park for free in a town centre car park, and from there it was about a 15 minute walk. Unfortunately misty rain was falling as I approached the stadium, slightly impairing the view as I walked over a bridge and looked slightly down on the stadium with its floodlights shining brightly. I walked past The Turf pub, located immediately outside the stadium and made famous in the "Welcome to Wrexham" documentary, and and past the most modern stand in the stadium, colourfully decorated on the outside, before making my way to the opposite length. This two tier stand was a lot more old fashioned, with a traditional lower league ground feel to it, with my seat in the second row of the upper tier. The one tiered modern stand opposite has an interesting roof design, with corporate boxes to the top and rear, with unobscured views, unlike the one I was in, which had supporting pillars and some metal door frames and mesh fencing partly obscuring views. Behind one goal is another old fashioned two tiered all seater stand, whilst behind the other end, the large covered terrace has been demolished and is now just a flat area concealed by fencing.
A match report on the Sky Sports website can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below :-
Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here
Wales 4-0 Gibraltar: Kieffer Moore at the double as Dragons score four in Wrexham friendly
Match report as Wales beat Gibraltar 4-0 in a friendly international at Wrexham; striker Kieffer Moore scored twice; Ben Davies and Nathan Broadhead also got on the scoresheet, all before half-time; first time Rob Page's side have achieved back-to-back wins since November 2021
Wales warmed up for Euro 2024 qualifying action by cruising to a 4-0 win over Gibraltar in Wrexham.
All the goals came in the first half as Kieffer Moore scored twice with Ben Davies and Nathan Broadhead also getting on the scoresheet.
After last month's victory in Latvia, it was the first time Wales had achieved back-to-back wins since November 2021.
The performance, especially in the opening period, will encourage Wales manager Rob Page ahead of the vital qualifier against Croatia on Sunday, even if Gibraltar's standing in world football must be taken into account.
This was the maiden meeting between the two nations at senior level and also marked Wales' return to the SToK Racecourse for the first time since beating Trinidad and Tobago there in 2019.
The Football Association of Wales was rewarded with a sell-out crowd of 10,008 as fans in the north showed their appetite to support the national team.
Page rested several regulars with the Croatia fixture in mind, when Wales will realistically need at least a point to keep alive hopes of automatic qualification for next summer's European Championship finals in Germany.
Davies took over the captaincy in the absence of the injured Aaron Ramsey, the Tottenham defender winning his 81st cap as Gibraltar played the 81st match in their history.
Charlie Savage, the 20-year-old son of former Wales midfielder Robbie, Joe Low, Regan Poole and Liam Cullen were handed first caps.
Savage, in particular, could be satisfied with his night's work as he showed composure in possession and exhibited a good range of passing.
Gibraltar came into the game 198th in the world with only nine nations below them on FIFA's rankings table.
Preparing to play the Republic of Ireland in Euro qualification on Monday, Gibraltar had suffered six straight defeats and not scored since a 1-0 friendly win over Andorra 11 months ago.
The loudest cheer in the opening minutes came when Savage evoked memories of his father with a crunching, but fair, challenge on Tjay De Barr that left the Gibraltar forward on the floor.
Broadhead was off target with a couple of efforts before Wales took the lead after 22 minutes from an unlikely source.
Skipper Davies rose highest from Broadhead's corner and Gibraltar's fallibility in the air was punished again when Moore met Savage's cross to score expertly off a post.
Daniel James, on early for the injured Wes Burns, was causing havoc down the left and forced a sprawling save from Dayle Coleing.
The over-worked Gibraltar goalkeeper also denied Savage twice and Liam Walker cleared another Davies effort off the line.
Broadhead then took James' 35th-minute pass and turned smartly to find the top corner of Coleing's net with a sweet right-footed strike.
Cullen twice went close and the fourth arrived on the stroke of half-time as James scampered free again to deliver a perfect cross for the waiting head of Moore.
Page made a raft of substitutions at half-time and the contest lost much of its rhythm.
The changes also removed the possibility of Wales eclipsing their record 11-0 win against Ireland in 1888.
Tom Bradshaw was inches from connecting with a Josh Sheehan cross that flashed across goal, but the second half was largely a nondescript affair.
James shook the crowd from their slumber with an angled effort that rattled the woodwork, but Wales had already achieved their objectives heading into Sunday.
Savage impresses Page during Wales debut
Rob Page revealed after the game that Charlie Savage will be staying with the Wales squad for the Euro 2024 qualifier with Croatia on Sunday.
The Reading midfielder was due to join up with the U21 side ahead of their European Championship qualifier away to the Czech Republic on Friday.
But Savage and Wycombe central defender Joe Low - who also made his senior debut against Gibraltar - will remain with Page's squad ahead of the vital Croatia clash in Cardiff.
"We'll keep Savage and Joe, not just off the back of tonight," said Page. "They've done themselves the world of good.
"Sav has earned the right to be with us and I've got a lot of time for Joe.
"He's earned the right to be there with injuries we've got."
"He has taken my advice and left," Page added of Savage's move from Manchester United to Sky Bet League One outfit Reading in the summer.
"It must have been hard for him. I spoke to Rob who had to leave United to go to Crewe. It's no different for Charlie.
"He did it because he's playing week in, week out in competitive football. He trains as he plays and has personality. We blocked Robbie from speaking to him all week which was a big achievement.
"Joking aside, Rob has got his back, he'll look after him. He's got his feet on the ground.
"Sav's best position is an old-fashioned box to box eight. The ball for Kieffer was first class, right on his head. He showed he can do both sides of it and he's a great talent."
Wales' comfortable win saw them secure back-to-back victories for the first time since November 2021.
"The results were not great in June, but it's how you bounce back and we did that in September with class [winning 2-0 in Latvia]," Page said.
"The environment is brilliant. We won't get carried away beating Gibraltar, but I see work in progress.
"My challenge to them was to be clinical and we were. We have to put it all together on Sunday.
"We picked a team here knowing what we'll face on Sunday.
"From the first minute on camp we knew the team we'd pick here and we know the team on Sunday. We are ready and can't wait for Sunday's game."
Wes Burns has returned to Ipswich and will be assessed by his club after the wing-back suffered an arm injury that forced him off in the early stages against Gibraltar.
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