Sam Ricketts absent as Wrexham draw with Newport

Posted Sunday, December 02, 2018 by PA

National League Wrexham played out a goalless draw in their Welsh derby with League Two Newport after manager Sam Ricketts was banned from the ground.

Ricketts has been repeatedly linked to League One strugglers Shrewsbury and on the morning of the game the Exiles announced he would stay away from the second-round tie.

The two sides, who met in the 2013 Conference play-off final which saw Newport return to the Football League, could not produce a goal and will be in the hat for Monday’s draw.

The first chance fell to Wrexham in the 25th minute when Crewe loanee Brad Walker struck a rising effort over the crossbar that failed to trouble goalkeeper Joe Day.

Day was tested just after the half-hour mark when Bobby Grant, borrowed by the Dragons from Joey Barton’s Fleetwood earlier this week, forced a firm save from the keeper.

And it took a stunning reaction save from Day to keep out Grant’s snapshot through a crowd of players as a blocked Paul Rutherford shot fell to his feet 14 yards out.

Mickey Demetriou got back to clear the ball off the County line after Stuart Beavon lobbed the ball over the out-rushing Day eight minutes after the interval.

Andrew Crofts dragged a shot wide for the visitors before Day was in action again, making another fine stop to deny Shaun Pearson from Luke Summerfield’s 72nd-minute corner.

And his opposite number Rob Lainton beat away Antoine Semenyo’s strike seven minutes from time as neither side could force a winner at the death.