Sport

Wrexham still waiting for first win of the season

22 Aug 2026 3 minute read

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds (left) and Rob Mac in the stands before the Sky Bet Championship match at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham. Credit: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Phil Blanche, Press Association

Wrexham were kept waiting for their first Sky Bet Championship win of the season as they drew 1-1 with Watford in front of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.

Both goals at the SToK Cae Ras came in the opening quarter with Luca Kjerrumgaard’s header cancelled out by Danny Imray’s first Wrexham goal.

It meant another draw for Wrexham after the Red Dragons were denied by a last-gasp Cardiff equaliser on Monday.

Watford are two points better off after their opening victory over Southampton and a satisfactory start under new boss Alessio Dionisi.

The Hornets had chances for an even happier homeward journey, but Wrexham – just as they had been in Cardiff – were left cursing the woodwork twice.

Reynolds and Mac saw Anthony Patterson gather an early effort from Amin Nabizada before Wrexham’s first attack ended with Ollie Rathbone prodding over.

Watford took a 14th-minute lead when Wrexham failed to apply pressure on the ball and Omar Haktab Traore delivered an inviting cross for Kjerrumgaard to head home.

It took Kjerrumgaard into double figures for Watford, the Danish striker having scored nine goals on loan last season before his move from Udinese was made permanent in the summer.

Nathan Broadhead was booked for simulation as Wrexham responded and they levelled midway through the first half.

Lewis O’Brien led a slick breakout and Moore found Imray to beat both goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia and Matty Pollock’s despairing attempt on the goal-line.

Jordan Zemura appealed hopefully for a Hornets penalty after having his heels clipped by Zak Vyner.

Ravaglia punched away a George Thomason free-kick and Imray scuffed against a post at the other end in what was proving to be an open affair.

Wrexham’s Danny Imray scores their side’s first goal of the game during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham. Credit: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

The game was held up before the interval after Thomason and Traore suffered a nasty clash of heads.

Traore came off worse and had to be replaced, while Thomason returned to the action with a bandage on his head.

Imray had been Wrexham’s most dangerous player from his wing-back station in the first period, and the summer signing from Crystal Palace powered on to Rathbone’s pass straight after the restart to test Ravaglia.

Rathbone’s final involvement was to cross for Thomason, arriving on the opposite left flank at speed, to strike the crossbar from a tight angle.

The contest could have gone either way in the final quarter as substitute Rocco Vata fired wide from a quick transition with Watford having numbers in their favour.

Wrexham’s late push ended with Ben Whiteman’s half-volley being deflected over and O’Brien making a mess of a close-range header.

Neither side had the guile to fashion a winner and the draw was guaranteed after Callum Doyle hit a Watford wall with the final kick.

Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.