Kieffer Moore struck deep into stoppage time to hand Wrexham a 3-2 victory at Preston North End and secure their first appearance in the EFL Cup third round for more than 40 years.
The Wales international pounced on a fumble from Jack Walton to spark wild scenes among the 2,500 travelling fans at Deepdale and extend Wrexham’s strong start to life back in the Championship.
Late Drama At Deepdale
Both sides rotated heavily after busy league weekends, and it was Preston who looked sharpest early on. Aston Villa loanee Lewis Dobbin marked his debut with a fine curled finish into the top corner after just seven minutes. Wrexham’s response was swift, Ryan Hardie opening his account with a spectacular strike from distance that looped beyond Walton to level the scores.
The hosts regained their advantage just after the half-hour mark when captain Liam Lindsay powered home a header from Alfie Devine’s corner. Paul Heckingbottom’s men looked in control heading into the interval, with Devine going close again and Daniel Jebbison striking the post as they pressed for a third. Wrexham, however, refused to buckle.
Phil Parkinson introduced fresh legs in the second half and his side grew in confidence. Nineteen-year-old Harry Ashfield delivered the equaliser on 59 minutes, his deflected shot wrong-footing Walton and lifting the noise from the away end. From that point the visitors looked the more composed outfit, keeping possession well and probing for openings against a tiring Preston defence.
The tie seemed destined for a penalty shootout until Moore, introduced from the bench, made the decisive impact. In the second minute of stoppage time, Ryan Barnett’s cross was spilled by Walton and the striker reacted quickest to bundle in his third goal in two games, capping a dramatic turnaround and sending Wrexham into round three for the first time since 1981-82, when they went to White Hart Lane in the third round, losing 2-0 to Spurs.
Writer’s View
This result represents another significant step forward for Wrexham, who continue to show they can mix it with established Championship sides. Moore’s late winner underlines the value of his experience and sharpness, while Hardie and Ashfield’s contributions highlight the blend of youth and attacking depth in Parkinson’s squad. With momentum growing and a place in the third round secured for the first time in over four decades, excitement is understandably high in North Wales.
For Preston, rotation cost them rhythm, but the bigger concern will be the way their defensive discipline fell away in the final half hour. Wrexham, though, deserved this win, and few would begrudge them their moment in the spotlight.
