Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Wrexham: Bailey goal downs title-chasing Wrexham

Owen Bailey began his career as a youngster at Newcastle United

Wrexham missed the chance to go second in League Two as Doncaster Rovers continued their fine form with a 1-0 win.

Owen Bailey's first league goal for Doncaster earned the home side their fifth successive league win.

Wrexham top scorer Paul Mullin, seeking his 100th club goal, thought he had equalised late on, but his effort was disallowed.

The Dragons' seventh away defeat ensured they remain in third place.

Phil Parkinson's men are four points behind leaders Stockport County and two points ahead of MK Dons, who head the chasing play-off pack.

Wrexham were making their first visit to the Eco Power Stadium and were unchanged from the side which earned a statement making 2-0 home win over fellow promotion candidates Mansfield Town on Good Friday.

Doncaster top scorer Joe Ironside, who has 14 league goals this term, was on the bench.

The home side started confidently, as befits a team who had won their last four league games, despite beginning the encounter in a position below mid-table.

Winger Luke Molyneux showed his paces down the right hand side and saw a swift low cross turned wide from close range by Maxime Biamou.

Wrexham's best first half chance fell to centre forward Ollie Palmer, whose header went wide from an Elliott Lee free kick which was turned back across goal by defender Will Boyle.

Lee's firm effort was shot blocked and Mullin put a snap-shot wide as he chased his 100th goal for the club.

Though Eoghan O'Connell was in commanding form for the visitors, Doncaster took the lead on the stroke of half time.

Full back James Maxwell delivered a curling cross from the left hand side and midfielder Bailey headed home beyond a helpless Arthur Okonkwo.

It was Bailey's first league goal for Doncaster, with Arsenal loanee Okonkwo also tested with a dipping cross from Molyneux before the half time whistle.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson swapped right wing back Luke Bolton for Ryan Barnett at the interval and defender Boyle headed a clear cut chance wide early in the second half.

But Doncaster were asking most of the questions as they sought a second goal and they were really testing Wrexham's capacity to stay in games.

Okonkwo was the busier of the two keepers, watching a Harrison Biggins cross hit the top of the crossbar, saving from Richard Wood and relieved to see a golden opportunity for Hakeeb Adelakun go wide from 15 yards.

As the game entered the last 15 minutes, sharp shooter Mullin, booked earlier, thought he had earned his 100th club goal - and put his side level. A corner was played in low from the right hand side, Mullin fired the ball home, but the celebrations were cut short by an assistant's flag for offside.

Wrexham mounted late pressure in an effort to rescue some reward from the game. In stoppage time Max Cleworth had a rasping late effort deflected wide and home skipper Wood went off with a head injury. Substitute Steven Fletcher also forced home keeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala into a fine scrambling stop.

But Doncaster weathered the late Wrexham storm to earn their fifth consecutive league win as the visitors suffered defeat despite remaining well placed, third in the League Two table.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: "I thought first half we weren't really at it and they were just sharper than us and their quality was better and that's because they were really on the money.

"We had patches but too many cheap giveaways in that fist half. We let crosses come into the box too easily and we got punished for one.

"We've had a real go second half, but unlucky for the goal that got disallowed not to stand."

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