Wrexham celebrated a significant achievement in their remarkable ascent under the stewardship of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, reaching the last 16 of England’s FA Cup for the first time since 1997 on Friday.
They secured a 1-0 victory over fellow Championship side Ipswich Town in north Wales, marking their return to the fifth round draw after a 29-year hiatus.
Josh Windass netted the solitary goal of the match in the 34th minute, leading Phil Parkinson’s team to victory.
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“Before the game, we discussed the opportunity to make history,” manager Parkinson remarked. “We’ve accomplished that, and I’m thrilled because it was always going to be a challenging match against a quality team.”
“This season, with the demands of the Championship and our FA Cup journey, we aim to enjoy ourselves, and we certainly did tonight.”
This week marked the five-year anniversary of Wrexham’s takeover, which occurred while the club was in the fifth-tier National League.
Currently, Wrexham sits sixth in the Championship, striving for a fourth consecutive promotion that would elevate them to the Premier League—an achievement that would be a first in their 158-year history.
“It’s fantastic for our owners to reach the fifth round,” added Parkinson.
“We’re looking forward to the draw on Monday night while in a hotel in Bristol. We’ll enjoy that moment, but the FA Cup is on the back burner now as we focus on the league.”
Friday’s victory marked the second time this season Wrexham defeated a team positioned higher in the FA Cup, having previously upset Premier League’s Nottingham Forest in the last round.
Ipswich, located seven points ahead of Wrexham in third place, is keen on an immediate return to the league they departed last summer.
By making ten changes for this match, Ipswich’s manager Kieran McKenna signaled that his priority lies with the league rematch on Feb. 21.
The inexperience in Ipswich’s lineup worked to Wrexham’s advantage, though Wrexham took some time to find their rhythm after initially failing to capitalize on a goalkeeping blunder within the first minute.
They nearly took the lead when Alex Palmer ventured out of his area to clear a long ball but mishit it.
Windass was quick to collect the ball wide and delivered a cross into the box for Sam Smith, but Palmer managed to recover and block the shot.
Little excitement graced the crowd on a chilly evening until Windass struck in the 34th minute. George Thomason’s cross from the left was overcooked, but Ryan Longman retrieved it on the opposite flank and set up Windass for a tidy finish.
Ollie Rathbone came close to extending the lead shortly after, turning on the edge of the box, but Palmer executed an outstanding one-handed save to deflect the curling shot.
As the first half drew to a close with some lively moments, Thomason sent in a dangerous low cross, but Ipswich cleared it successfully.
The visitors nearly equalized shortly after the break when Jens Cajuste’s long throw led to a chaotic goalmouth scene, but Arthur Okonkwo made a stop from Chuba Akpom on the line. Max Cleworth also blocked an Akpom effort which went wide.
Ipswich’s increased urgency pinned Wrexham back for a prolonged period, yet Wrexham weathered the pressure, and Windass compelled Palmer into a save from a tight angle.
Further chances came for Windass, but another shot was deflected, and Palmer dealt with a glancing header comfortably.
Palmer ventured forward for a late corner as Ipswich sought to force extra time, but Wrexham maintained their lead for a memorable victory.
PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
