Even after a successful season, it seems to have been an age since last August. Whilst the last three seasons have seen the club battling against relegation, with all of the stress and strain that causes for the fans, this promotion season seems to have been almost as bad. On top of that, after the well below par performance last Saturday, when Hartlepool had given us a chance to reclaim top spot, the fans, who had been so ready to celebrate promotion, are certainly owed a good parting shot in the last home game of the season

The only players missing from the first team squad are defenders Ian Roper and Scott Dann, although both are reported as progressing well, with every sign of being fit for pre-season, and Welsh under 21 International Mark Bradley, who has been suffering from an injury he picked up in the reserves a couple of weeks ago.

Richard Money may well be considering reshuffling the pack, however, as he was less than pleased with the performance of some individuals last week. However, there is also an argument to say that, having been told off, they should be given another chance. Fortunately, that’s the Manager’s call, not mine.

Hector Sam, one who didn’t disgrace himself last week, will be hoping to get a start against his old club and Ishmel Demontagnac will also be hoping his good 45 minute cameo means he will get a start and the Express and Star is hinting that that will be the case. Keates and Dobson are likely to start in centre midfield, with Butler up front and Harper on the right, but changes could happen almost anywhere else. Mark Wright and Par Cederqvist will be hoping for a chance after scoring for the reserves and Tony Bedeau had a good game at full back in the same match. Allan Picken and Geordie Lyall are both now fit and will also be desperate for a chance. Fans will feel that Cooper, Talyor and Fox may well be the players under the most threat.

Dean Keates will, of course, be picking up his Player of the Season award before the game.

Wrexham have a clean bill of health for the game, skipper Neil Roberts having returned for their 1 – 0 at Gay Meadow in the week.

Their danger man is likely to be the scorer in that win at Shrewsbury, Michael Proctor. The player is, of course, on loan from Hartlepool and will, doubtless, want to do his club a favour by taking points off us!

Predictions?

Wrexham go into the game 20th, just three points above the relegation zone. They have won 5, drawn 4 and lost 13 away from home, so that looks good on paper. The game, however, isn’t played on paper.

The team are on an excellent run of form, having won the last three games on the bounces, all without conceding a goal. Five clean sheets in the last seven games shows just how much Brian Carey has improved the defence since the departure of Denis Smith, at which point they were starting to look doomed.

Wrexham, if they win, would be safe from relegation and even a draw would be enough if Boston were to lose against Torquay, so this is a far from easy game. All the same, I think Saddlers fans will get the win they want to make up for last week.

Small Town In Poland

Yes, roll up, roll up folks… Issue 5 of Small Town In Poland makes a belated appearance on Saturday. Featuring some fantastic wit, rubbish, humour and tripe, it’ll keep you entertained during half time, or during the match if its anything like Bury… Some predictable articles on promotion, crying babies and Everton shirts and Exile’s fantastic ‘What kind of fan are you?’ quiz, plus Mick Kearns Learns and an article on Walsall and Wrexham *legend* Bobby Shinton…

Forget buying a hot chocolate with the powder glued to the bottom of your plastic cup as it burns your hand, find a zine seller and exchange that grubby £1 coin for a piece of literay genius.

Sellers at the entrance to the Hotel, the main entrance to the ground and one up by the retail park corner as per usual.