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28
Thu, Mar

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CARLOS EDWARDS is convinced Wrexham can pull off the most dramatic escape act of the season and preserve their League One status.


The Trinidadian scored his first goal of the season, having only returned to action after a serious knee injury back in mid-January, in Wrexham's crushing defeat of relegated Stockport County.

Edwards rivalled hat-trick hero Juan Ugarte for the man of the match award and is now back to the form that has made him a Racecourse favourite.

Denis Smith's side need victories in their last two matches against Brentford and Huddersfield, and hope other results are favourable, to have a chance of beating the drop - and Edwards is delighted Wrexham are still in contention.

"We've always believed that we can do it, and we showed that by coming here and scoring four goals and getting three points," said Edwards.

"That has given us a big boost going into the last week and hopefully we can get two more wins and stay up.

"If you have no belief, there is no point in going out there to represent Wrexham Football Club.

"Even though you can't always win, you have to go out there and give 100 per cent every week, and we have been doing that. Now we'll have to see what happens."

Edwards, a target of Preston North End until he picked up the knee injury on international duty with Trinidad and Tobago in July, feels himself that he is close to top form again.

"I am really delighted to get off the mark with my goal. I do as much as I can do give the team a boost and I hope the goal helps the team stay up," added Edwards.

"It took me a while to get back to form after my injury. There are no excuses, but it was just a matter of time to get back to what I have been doing for Wrexham the last couple of seasons.

"And I hope it continues in our last two games - they are really big games."

It was Ugarte, though, who rocked sorry Stockport in an amazing opening half-hour with his stunning treble.

A clinical fourth-minute strike set Wrexham on their way, but the striker was slightly more fortunate to see a deflected effort sneak in for the second seven minutes later.

There was no doubting his third - a clean header - after 29 minutes that completed the scoring after Edwards and Stockport's Stuart Barlow had found the net.

The Spaniard has now struck 22 times this season - 20 of them away from home - and Smith admits the former Real Sociedad forward is proving to be one of the finds of the campaign.

"Juan was on fire and we looked very handy," said Smith. "On that type of form, he is hard to stop.

"We did look a bit shaky in the first half, but we sorted that out at half-time and we cruised it in the second period.

"Stockport tried to match us up with our system and that probably was a mistake."

Smith knows Wrexham still have a mountain to climb if they are to survive and must rely on Oldham or MK Dons slipping up on the last day.

But he said, "We only are where we are because of the Football League (a 10-point deduction for falling into administration), and you can't blame the players for that.

"The Football League is obviously happy to diminish their competition by letting inferior sides stay up. But we're still in it and that's great credit to the players.

"Now hopefully we can go and win our last two games and see what happens from there.

"We must beat Brentford on Tuesday and that will set us up perfectly.

"It will be a massive night, but I've been telling the players all season they can do it."

How they rated

BEN FOSTER: Made a series of outstanding saves to prevent any hope of a Stockport fightback. 7

SHAUN PEJIC: By far the most impressive Wrexham defender and looks to have fully shaken off the effects of his recent injury. 8

CRAIG MORGAN: Rock solid at the heart of the defence and won every aerial battle. 7

DENNIS LAWRENCE: Used his height to good effect against County's diminutive strikeforce. 7

CARLOS EDWARDS: Back to his best after early season nightmare injury, he constantly unnerved County with his blistering pace. 8

MATTY CROWELL: Combative as ever and helped the visitors establish early midfield supremacy. 7

DANNY WILLIAMS: Found it all too easy against Stockport's spineless engine room. 7

DARREN FERGUSON: Pulled the strings and used all his experience to carve open the home side again and again. 7

ANDY HOLT: Looked back to his best again and worked the left hand flank well. 7

CHRIS LLEWELLYN: Provided a perfect foil for Ugarte with a selfless performance of off the ball running. 7

JUAN UGARTE: His goal-haul says it all. Surely one of the finds of the season. 8

Subs: Dean Bennett (for Crowell 87). Not used: Alex Smith, Chris Armstrong, Hector Sam, Scott Harrison.

Stockport County: Spencer, Goodwin, Raynes, Williams, Jackman, Hurst (Tomlinson 79), Allen, Briggs, Horwood (Hardiker 57), Le Fondre, Barlow (Turnbull 81).