Wrexham 1 Boston 1

Last updated : 17 August 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Andy Dibble made an impressive debut for Wrexham playing his first game for his new club after coming back from suspension, making a string of good saves.

He was one of the brightest spots in the game for home manager Denis Smith who rated the general team performance as abysmal.

He said: "That performance was appalling. It was too hot for my poor little dears. I am extremely upset about the way they played."

In contrast Boston's assistant manager Neil Thompson was delighted with the way his side bounced back from going a goal behind. He said: "I have told my lads they have nothing to fear. We had a couple of great chances, then Wrexham ran up and scored and that knocked the stuffing out of us.

"I told my players at half time that we have to believe in ourselves and get on with the game."

Boston had the first real chance of the match when Steve Burton crossed from the left and Daryl Clare missed an open net as the ball came too fast at him and he could not control his shot at the back post.

Lee Trundle gave Wrexham a boost with a somewhat lucky goal on 27 minutes, his chip from a Steve Thomas pass was helped on its way when goalkeeper Paul Bastock tried to turn it over the bar and pushed it into the roof of his net.

Bastock did better two minutes later when he saved a 15-yarder from Steve Thomas after Andy Morrell's shot was blocked and ran loose to give the midfielder a good chance.

Thomas missed another opening with a weak shot straight at the keeper and Shaun Holmes was on target with a 40-yard free-kick that the keeper saved.

Simon Weathestone was just wide with a 30-yard shot and then brought a brilliant save from Dibble as the home keeper dived to turn his close-range shot round the foot of a post.

Dibble made another brilliant save to keep out a Burton header from Mark Angel's cross, before Boston's pressure paid off when Simon Rusk ran on to a pass from Angel and chipped the keeper to level the score.

Trundle had two late shots off target and Weatherstone put a snap-shot over the bar before Dibble saved a Weatherstone header to deny Boston the win they deserved