Wrexham marked a significant milestone in their remarkable journey under the ownership of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, advancing to the last 16 of England’s FA Cup for the first time since 1997 on Friday.
Wrexham secured their place in the fifth round by defeating fellow Championship club Ipswich Town 1-0 in North Wales, ending a 29-year absence from this stage of the tournament.
Josh Windass netted the decisive goal in the 34th minute, leading Phil Parkinson’s team to victory.
– Wrexham eyeing Premier League, five years post Reynolds and Mac’s acquisition
“We discussed prior to the match the chance to make history,” manager Parkinson expressed. “We’ve achieved that, and I’m delighted because it was always going to be a challenging game against a strong opponent.”
“This season brings the added challenge of being in the Championship along with an FA Cup campaign. We’re determined to enjoy it, and tonight was certainly a night to remember.”
This week also commemorated the fifth anniversary of Wrexham’s takeover, which occurred when the club was competing in the fifth-tier National League.
Currently sitting sixth in the Championship, Wrexham is vying for a fourth consecutive promotion that would elevate them to the Premier League for the first time in their 158-year history.
“It’s fantastic for our owners to reach the fifth round,” Parkinson added.
“We are looking forward to the draw on Monday evening while we’ll be in a hotel in Bristol. We’ll cherish this moment, but our immediate focus will be on the league.”
Friday’s victory marked Wrexham’s second win against a higher-ranked opponent in this season’s FA Cup, following an upset over Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the previous round.
Ipswich, currently sitting seven points ahead of Wrexham in third place, aims for a swift return to the Championship after their relegation last summer.
By making 10 lineup changes for this match, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna signaled his priorities lie with their league rematch set for February 21.
The unfamiliarity in Ipswich’s squad benefitted Wrexham, though they initially struggled to capitalize on an early goalkeeper error.
They nearly found the net after Alex Palmer came off his line to intercept a long ball but failed to connect properly.
Windass managed to reclaim the ball from the flank and delivered a cross into the area aimed at Sam Smith, but Palmer quickly reacted to block the shot.
The match remained uneventful until Windass struck in the 34th minute. An overhit cross from George Thomason was salvaged by Ryan Longman, who centered the ball for Windass to convert.
Ollie Rathbone almost doubled the lead shortly afterward, skillfully turning at the edge of the box, but Palmer made an impressive one-handed save to deny his curling strike.
As the first half drew to a close, a low cross from Thomason posed a threat, but Ipswich managed to clear the danger.
After halftime, Ipswich nearly equalized following a long throw from Jens Cajuste that resulted in a goalmouth scramble, yet Arthur Okonkwo blocked a shot from Chuba Akpom right on the goal line, while Max Cleworth also obstructed an attempt from Akpom, and Elkan Baggott shot wide of the mark.
As Ipswich grew more urgent, Wrexham found themselves under pressure for an extended period. Nonetheless, they weathered the storm, with Windass testing Palmer from a tight angle.
Windass created more chances but saw another effort blocked, while Palmer dealt with a glancing header.
In a desperate move, Palmer moved up for a late corner as Ipswich sought to force extra time, but Wrexham hung on for a historic victory.
Contributions from PA and The Associated Press were part of this report.