IT would be all too easy to say they should make a Hollywood movie about this epic football match — given Wrexham’s A-lister owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
But you would need an entire series to cram in all the excitement, emotion, thrills, spills and sheer drama of this thriller.
Seven goals, one red card, a booking for Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson, great goals, penalty drama all in 90 minutes — what a script!
And what a pity the entire UK could not watch this drama unfold as only Welsh station S4C had the good sense to see that this tie was laced with the romance of the Cup.
Incredibly, over in Hollywood, Wrexham’s famous backers appeared to have missed some of the action as McElhenney tweeted: “The feed at ESPN+ went down!!! What’s happening???? @Wrexham_AFC.”
Fortunately for McElhenney and Reynolds Wrexham now have a fourth-round tie to look forward to — which is bound to be screened.
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On this evidence the sequel will likely be another blockbuster!
Three divisions and one national border separated these famous FA Cup contestants.
National League Wrexham had not lost in 17 matches and arrived at the CBS Arena brimming with confidence — even Coventry boss Mark Robins warned his Championship side: “Wrexham are by far the best side outside the top four divisions.”
Within 20 minutes, the visitors had confirmed it.
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The Dragons were simply too hot for the Sky Blues to handle as they played with the swagger of a side who are going places.
Parkinson’s heroes seized the lead after 12 minutes.
Midfielder Luke Young strode forward before sweeping in a delicious cross from the right and Sam Dalby soared above Jonathan Panzo and Michael Rose to power his header beyond Simon Moore.
The 4,500 travelling Wrexham fans went wild and a couple of red flares sent out a plume of crimson smoke — which was pretty much the same shade as Coventry defenders’ faces.
Stung by the early setback, Sky Blues skipper Liam Kelly surged forward menacingly and was cynically chopped down from behind by scorer Dalby, who happily accepted his yellow card.
However, it almost proved a costly foul when Kasey Palmer fired in a 25-yard piledriver from the free-kick which beat Mark Howard but bounced off the post.
That let-off appeared to focus Wrexham minds and they promptly doubled their lead in their next attack with a freakish goal.
Elliot Lee, son of former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee, collected the ball on the left and swept in a curling inswinger towards Paul Mullin.
It may not have found its intended target — instead it found the net, as Moore watched in horror as the ball flew into the far corner of his net.
Wrexham were in dreamland but this incredible script still had plenty of plot twists to come.
Robins had left his top scorer Viktor Gyokeres on the bench but when Fabio Tavares went down injured he sent for the Swedish forward.
Coventry’s confidence surged and within a minute of their talisman’s arrival they had pulled a goal back.
Palmer’s cross found Martyn Waghorn, who knocked it into Ben Sheaf’s path and the midfielder drilled a fierce low shot beyond Howard from 12 yards.
Wrexham simply gritted their teeth and stunned Coventry with a third goal — six minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Robins had been fearing Ben Tozer’s “ballistic missile” and the Wrexham throw-in expert showed why.
His booming throw into the heart of the penalty area sparked a spot of head tennis as skipper Young headed to Dalby, who headed to Thomas O’Connor, who headed past Moore to spark more bedlam.
If anything, the second half was even more bonkers.
Another Tozer long throw 12 minutes after the restart landed at Max Cleworth, whose shot smacked the outstretched arm of Panzo.
It was a clear penalty and also earned Panzo a red card.
Paul Mullin sent Moore the wrong way to score from the spot to make it 4-1. Wrexham fans were giving it the old “Oles” as some home supporters headed for the exits.
Those who did blundered badly because Coventry suddenly rallied.
Palmer squared for Gyokeres to slam home his customary goal to make it 4-2 after 69 minutes.
And seven minutes later Palmer swept a stunning free-kick over the Wrexham wall to make it 4-3.
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Wrexham were hanging on for their lives and Parkinson was booked for dissent.
Amazingly, Robins’ battlers almost snatched a draw six minutes into stoppage time but Palmer fired over from seven yards as the Dragons held out for a win. That’s a wrap!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
