Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds felt extremely proud of how the Reds forced the FA Cup knockout against Chelsea until extra time.
The long-awaited FA Cup showdown between Wrexham and Chelsea has reached its conclusion. While Wrexham didn’t end up with a major Cupset to boast for decades, the Reds put up a statement performance against the defending World Champions.
Thanks to an early goal from Sam Smith, Wrexham stunned Chelsea by taking a 1-0 lead. Though a moment of misfortune for keeper Okonkwo meant the scores were level at half-time, the hosts’ performance was exceptional.
Wrexham followed this display with an inspiring next 45 minutes. With brilliant shifts from Callum Doyle, George Dobson and Lewis O’Brien, the Reds took the knockout against Chelsea to extra time at a 2-2 scoreline.
Eventually, Wrexham may have finished second to Chelsea, but this display had fans waxing lyrical about them. Here again, co-owner Ryan Reynolds led the praises for the group after a surreal fight Vs Chelsea.
Post-match, Reynolds took to X(formerly Twitter) to remind fans of how far the Wrexham story has come. Reynolds congratulated Wrexham on this performance, saying: “Three years ago this week, we battled Maidenhead United to a draw. Today we pushed Chelsea to extra time. So incredibly proud of Wrexham’s performance today.”
Reynolds’ tweet proves Wrexham came a long way in 3 years
Until three years ago, Wrexham found themselves competing in the National League. Back then, the Reds were pushing for an automatic promotion to League Two around this time of the year.
In such a scenario, the referenced Maidenhead United game felt like a must-win clash for Wrexham. One slip and the Reds’ season-long progress could have been undone by promotion rivals Notts County.
Wrexham’s fears came true as a mid-table Maidenhead side held them to a 2-2 draw with a late equaliser. While Wrexham did secure promotion later, such phases highlight the adverse situations from which the club has risen.
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Just 3 years on from the Maidenhead clash, and Wrexham are battling the best English clubs now. Not only are they facing them, but they are putting pressure on Big Six sides like Chelsea.
For a fair share of the recent FA Cup clash, Wrexham were the better side overall. While the result didn’t go in their favour, they won the hearts of all the supporters who turned up at the Racecourse.
Co-owner Rob Mac put it in the best way possible when he wrote: “I don’t know that I’ve seen the Racecourse buzzing like that after any game, LET ALONE A LOSS. Those men left everything out there. So, so proud of that performance and so proud of that support. UP. THE. TOWN.”
Wrexham’s extra-time effort made co-owners extremely proud
Both Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds’ messages convey that the duo felt extremely proud of Wrexham’s effort. What particularly touched them was how the Reds took the game to extra time against the World Champions, Chelsea.
After an exceptional 90 minutes of regular play, Wrexham didn’t let the intensity drop off despite an injury-hit squad. Though George Dobson’s controversial red card reduced Wrexham to 10 men, the group held together to take the knockout to extra time.
Now, surviving 30 minutes of extra time against Chelsea wasn’t easy at all, but the resilience Wrexham showed made every fan extremely proud. Despite Garnacho giving the Blues a 3-2 lead early in the first half, a 10-man Wrexham didn’t surrender.
The Reds had nearly found their way back in the game as super sub Lewis Brunt scored from the corner to make it 3-3. However, VAR’s intervention ruled out the equaliser as Brunt was caught offside by inches.
As a result, Wrexham were denied a deserved penalty shootout against Chelsea. While Wrexham didn’t win the game, this terrific effort has proved that their ceiling is actually limitless.
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