After knocking out Championship side Coventry City in the FA Cup last weekend, Wrexham were knocked out of the Isuzu FA Trophy themselves with a Friday night defeat to Altrincham.

In a ding-dong battle, the hosts took the lead early on through a Lewis Baines header before Jake Bickerstaff poked in just before the half hour mark to level. 

Two minutes after the equaliser, Wrexham were ahead with Bickerstaff getting his second but as it looked like they were riding the Alty storm well, an 88th minute leveller from youngster Zak Goodson sent the tie to penalties.

Two early misses for the Dragons in the penalty shootout allowed Alty to progress to the Round of 16. 

  • Story of the match

Phil Parkinson made eleven changes to his Wrexham side from their FA Cup win over Coventry last weekend, and the changes were clear as the hosts dominated the opening stages. 

Eddy Jones had the first effort of the game as his effort from the edge of the 18 yard box flew over, and minutes later Jordan Hulme fired into the side netting.

The host’s pressure continued, with Chris Conn-Clarke striking the crossbar with an effort and waiting for the rebound was Lewis Baines who was able to head home the rebound past Rob Lainton to give Alty a surprise lead within ten minutes.

It looked like it was two as Marcus Dinanga poked in at the far post but the linesman denied them a second goal, ruling it offside.

As the 20th minute approached, Alty were still in charge and two chances in quick succession from Hulme and Toby Mullarkey were cleared off the line.

It took 28 minutes for Wrexham to have their first shot which was well saved by Ollie Byrne from Sam Dalby but Dalby could do nothing a minute later as Jake Bickerstaff levelled from close range. 

Bickerstaff would get his second of the game two minutes later as he calmly slotted past Byrne in the Altrincham goal to turn the tie on its head. 

A relatively calm period following the goal followed with no real chances ended with four to go until half time. Hulme unleashed a powerful drive but it ended up in the side netting. 

Despite the scoreline, the hosts were still in control and the last chance of the first period came to Hulme but he saw an effort from 10 yards saved by Lainton before the referee blew up. 

The swing of the game continued in the early stages of the second half with former Albanian youth international Egli Kaja just unable to meet a Mullarkey cross in the six yard box. 

Visiting captain James Jones had the Dragons' first effort of the second period, drilling low into the hands of Byrne. Alty broke and Lainton easily saved a tame effort from Kaja.

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Jones seemed to be having the visitors' best chances of the game aside from Bickerstaff's goals, and a long range curling effort was destined for the top corner but the home custodian got across well to save acrobatically. 

With the clock ticking, Wrexham seemed to be content with 2-1 and it looked as if the game would play out a slow end with no real chances. 

Alty's late leveller

Some home fans were preparing to leave the J. Davidson Stadium with a minute left on the clock but a moment of brilliance from youngster Zak Goodson ensured they would be staying for a penalty shoot out. 

The 22 year old, who joined from Ilkeston Town in the summer for an undisclosed fee, was able to find space on the edge of the box to fire past Lainton and send the home fans into delirium.

No chances after the late equaliser meant that the Fourth Round tie would be decided by penalties, taken in front of the 985 travelling Wrexham fans. 

Early shootout slip ups from visiting goalscorer Bickerstaff, who saw his penalty superbly saved by Byrne who had put in a fantastic performance in the hosts' goal, and defender Reece Hall-Johnson, skying over, gave Altrincham the chance to progress with their fifth penalty - a chance which Toby Mullarkey took with aplomb to book the hosts' place in the Round of Sixteen. 

  • Player of the match

Largely an unsung hero, who controlled the midfield for the majority of the game leading to dominance from the hosts, Chris Conn-Clarke also opened the scoring in the penalty shoot out keeping his cool after Bickerstaff missed the opening spot kick before him.