Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson's verdict on Wellington defeat

Leader Live

21-07-2025

The Reds dominated the game at The Sky Stadium but the A-League side scored the only goal early in the second half following an error by goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.
It was a disappointing way to end a tour that began in Australia with a 3-0 victory over Melbourne Victory before Wrexham went down 2-1 against Sydney FC.
There was another loss in New Zealand at the hands of Wellington in front of 25,400 supporters but boss Parkinson felt Wrexham could have done better.
He told Sgorio: 'The energy of the young players, and credit to them for that. They really wanted to win and they showed that in their performance,
'The one key moment came from them with a good cross.
'We could have dealt with it better and the lad's finished it.
'We had numerous opportunities to score, cross after cross, and never really tested the goalkeeper enough.
'He made a couple of good saves but not really tested him.
'Football is about final-third quality, how you get there is one thing but when you are in and around the final third, it is producing a bit of calmness.
'We needed to get a goal and we had a lot of dominance in the game but we didn't produce when it mattered most and that's a big learning curve for us, but credit to Wellington.
'It's been a great experience for us coming here, what a stadium, and great support as well.
'A tough night for us because you always want to win but we didn't and we will learn from that.'
There are just under three weeks until the new Championship campaign kicks-off.
Wrexham. who secured an historic third successive promotion last term, face newly-relegated Southampton at St Marys on Saturday August 9.
Parkinson is set to bolster his squad further before facing the Saints and he will also be hoping players make a speedy recovery from injury.
Wrexham had an early chance when Harry Ashfield intercepted goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi's loose pass before Ryan Hardie headed wide from Ryan Longman's cross.
The lively Ashfield was denied following captain Kazuki Nagasawa's superb last ditch challenge in the area after good work by Max Cleworth and Hardie as the Reds, seeing a lot of the ball, continued to dominate play.
At the other end, Hideki Ishige's free-kick was turned behind by Okonkwo but Wrexham had more half-chances as Elliot Lee and Ashfield shot wide while James McClean's cross was nodded down by Longman for Matty James who fired over.
Ashfield couldn't direct his header on target with the last opportunity of the first half, and Wellington took the lead in the 49th minute.
Okonkwo fumbled Ryan Lee's low cross and Luke Flowerdew converted from close range.
Wrexham were almost back on level terms immediately as Lee headed against the post from Cleworth's delivery and he put another shot wide.
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The Reds continued to press and Hardie put an effort wide before Oluwayemi pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Lee's half-volley from Longman's cross.
Parkinson made eight changes just after the hour mark and another three substitutes soon entered the action.
It looked like Wrexham had equalised with 10 minutes to go when Ollie Palmer took down Ryan Barnett's cross and fired home but the goal was disallowed for handball and Wellington held on for victory.
Wrexham (3-5-2): Okonkwo (Burton 63); Cleworth (Aaron James 72), Scarr (O'Connell 63), Brunt (Mendy 72); Longman (Barnett 63), Ashfield (Dobson 63), Matty James (Evans 63), O'Connor (Palmer 63), McClean (Revan 63); Lee (Moore 72), Hardie (Faal 63).