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Marine boss gutted FA Cup replay against Wrexham can’t be played at Racecourse Ground

Marine boss Neil Young says he is gutted that the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay vs Wrexham won’t be played at the Racecourse Ground.

The Northern Premier League Division One West outfit looked on course for a shock victory in Saturday’s meeting with their National League opposition at Rossett Park after taking a deserved lead, only for the Red Dragons to equalised deep into stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw.

The teams come face to face again but this time at Nantwich Town, with the game taking place at the Optimum Pay Stadium because the pitch at Wrexham was relaid after the game against Chesterfield on October the 5th.

On not facing Wrexham at their north Wales home, Young, who experienced a derby victory at the iconic stadium whilst in charge of Chester during the 2013-14 season, said: “I am gutted it is not at The Racecourse but it is what it is.

“It is a great, old stadium and there would have been a lot of fans there.”

Marine showed just how good they can at the weekend, but Young felt his side should have killed off the game after getting into some good positions.

“My only disappointment from our side was a few times when we got in down the sides, our final ball wasn’t very good,” said Young.

“But you have got to give credit to Wrexham, they stuck at it and I am sure they will be going away happy with still being in the draw.

“But we will relish the replay.”

Wrexham’s next league game at The Racecourse Ground is on Saturday the 30th of October with Torquay United the visitors.

Although disappointed to relinquish home advantage if his side receive are drawn out first, which they weren’t but now face a replay away from home, Parkinson stressed the importance of having the pitch replaced.

“The playing surface at the Racecourse Ground has been a concern from our first pre-season friendly,” he told the official club website.

“The decisive action taken by the Board to have it re-turfed at a substantial expense is appreciated and, while it is not without risk, it should mean that we have a reliable playing surface through the winter months.

“It is disappointing that we are having to potentially relinquish home advantage for this round of the FA Cup, but it is a decision I fully support, to allow the pitch the maximum time to settle before we play Torquay United on October 30.”

Meanwhile, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson understands supporters’ frustrations after his side were booed off the pitch at the end of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Marine.

He responded by saying: “When you come to a team lower down than you then you are expected to win and we didn’t do that.

“There is going to be an element of frustration, we have got to accept that and I have got to accept it as well.

“But we live to fight another day and we look forward to Tuesday.”

When asked whether he was under pressure, with Wrexham one of the favourites for promotion but currently mid-table in the National League, Parkinson added: “I think every game you go into as a manager you feel a bit of pressure because there are expectations on us.

“We have got to do better in areas of the game, we know that.

“We dug a result out, we dug one out against Chesterfield and we have got to use that as a positive lift going into Tuesday night.”

With the Marine boss gutted their FA Cup replay against Wrexham can’t be played at Racecourse Ground, fans gave their reaction to it being hosted at Nantwich Town…

@neilhay3s: Why can’t we print tickets at home ? It’s ridiculous to go to the ground when many of us live a long way from the ground. You do know a print at home option is available for all other clubs.

@DragonsProud: Thank you for the info. Let’s get behind the club, we all voted for this and they are trying their best to accommodate as many as possible, too easy to be negative.

@fairspearian: Sure, so how do you suggest those who live outside of Wrexham get their tickets?

@GazTopham: I collected my tickets last Tue which was a 2 hour round trip, why can’t you just send them via email and make life easier for people and save the planet at the same time.

@huwselby: So you have to collect 9-5 on monday and tuesday. I work 9-5! Thanks a lot

@nodeitynodoubt: Farcical again. How do they not understand that a lot of our support doesn’t live in the town. They’ve had plenty of time to sort e-ticketing after the joke at the start of the season.

@Gentlesham: Are there no other grounds in the Wrexham area or north east Wales at least that the club could have used?! I understand maximising income but there are grounds in the Cymru Premier that could have hosted the game. The Rock? Deeside Stadium? Queensway? Airfield? Strange decision

@froomielol: So the tickets can only be collected from the club shop, on either Monday or Tuesday, when most people will be in work? That is daft and unacceptable, honestly. Do better.

@Chris_R1987: I think the club should cover the cost of travel. As it’s a ‘home’ game.

@caleb_pumford: After watching that today [Saturday], you should be paying me a tenner to come Tuesday

@Gwd2570Gareth: @RMcElhenney whether your directly involved or no, those you have appointed as guardians are royally fucking it up. You acknowledge the potential fanbase in the whole of north wales, yet those you have entrusted with their alleged business acumen seem oblivious to it

@wrexham_TID: @VancityReynolds @RMcElhenney the club has gone from being a happy place run by the fans for the fans to a toxic working environment behind the scenes; communications from fans are ignored by our incompetent dragon of a CEO.

@crwydropeldroed: Hang on, there are countless better grounds in north east Wales than Nantwich Town that could have hosted a game like this. Dare I say that this is the result you get when you mix in the same circles as English rather than Welsh clubs week to week?

@MrNovember__: Watching your team play at ‘home’ shouldn’t be this much of a challenge. Two words for you @fleurrobo, mobile tickets.

@78Spirit: It gets better. Can only pick up your tkts in person at the Racecourse during normal working hours with the added caveat of proof that you attended the Ken Barnes hot pot supper in 1961 held in the Fareways cafe on King Street with all 4 great great grandparents.

@huwselby: So people who work 9-5 can’t actually collect their tickets. Club is becoming a joke on and off the field now. At least the trust would have opened up on Sunday and stayed open til 7pm on the Monday. Sort it out @fleurrobo @RMcElhenney @VancityReynolds

@john_mcal: Here’s one. If there’s only 1,000 tickets for Wrexham fans why couldn’t they play at Druids?

@JordAlexJones: Wrexham are playing a ‘home’ FA Cup qualifier across the border at Nantwich Town. Would a Welsh domestic ground such as Airbus or Cefn Druids etc have been suitable?

@JoeEdwardsss: Bit of a shambles at the minute lads. Why not open 12-8 on Monday or Tuesday for people who have a job or live outside of Wrexham? Amateurish

@markbutler1978:
Solomon Grundy
Bought a ticket on Sunday
Collected in person on Monday
Went to a different ground altogether on Tuesday
Emailed a complaint on Wednesday
Ignored on Thursday
Paid up again on Friday
Collected again on Saturday
And that was a pain for Solomon Grundy
#WxmAFC

SEE MORE: FA Cup First Round draw in full

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