Wrexham were left frustrated after being held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-threatened Cambridge United on Tuesday night.
The result saw Phil Parkinson’s side drop valuable points in the race for automatic promotion, with the match marred by controversial refereeing decisions. Wrexham were seeking to extend their winning run after a strong 2-0 victory over Exeter City, but Cambridge were determined to fight for their survival.
The visitors, fresh off a 2-0 win over Exeter City, looked set for another victory when George Dobson’s early strike in the fourth minute gave them the lead. However, Cambridge responded with a relentless fight, drawing level just before half-time through Liam Bennett’s close-range finish.
Second Half Stalemate
The second half saw Cambridge take the lead in the 47th minute, thanks to a penalty from Josh Stokes after a foul by Wrexham’s Lewis Brunt on Ryan Loft. But Wrexham weren’t about to roll over, with January signing Sam Smith heading home Ryan Longman’s cross to level the scores once again.
However, it was a late goal by Wrexham that caused the most controversy. A header from Elliot Lee’s corner was disallowed by referee Thomas Parsons, sparking outrage from Parkinson and the Wrexham players. The referee ruled that the ball had gone out of play before returning to the box. Wrexham felt the decision was harsh, with no clear evidence that the ball had indeed crossed the line.
“The referee’s (Thomas Parsons) performance tonight, to say I’m raging is one of the biggest understatements in my 1,000 games. That penalty decision is one of the worst penalty decisions I’ve seen, similar to the Reading one, and to disallow the goal at the end is completely bizarre,” said Parkinson.
Parkinson was also frustrated with what he perceived as time-wasting by Cambridge in the second half. The Wrexham boss claimed that the officials failed to address the issue, adding to his growing anger with the performance of the refereeing team. He also commented on the lack of action taken against Cambridge’s goalkeeper, whose delays further added to the tension in the match.
Writer’s View
Wrexham’s frustrations with the refereeing in this match are understandable, as the decisions against them were difficult to comprehend. However, despite the controversial moments, Wrexham will need to focus on their performances and push for consistency as they continue their promotion campaign. With six games left to play, they still have control of their destiny, but they must ensure that their form doesn’t dip further with so much at stake.
