Wrexham Vs Portsmouth: Sam Smith and Max Cleworth steer Red Dragons to victory

The latest chapter in Wrexham Vs Portsmouth ended 2-1 as Sam Smith and Max Cleworth struck in the first half at the Racecourse Ground (Stok Cae Ras) on Tuesday night, a result that tightened Wrexham's grip on a play-off place and continued their push for a fourth successive promotion.

Wrexham Vs Portsmouth — key moments and the scoreline

Wrexham opened the scoring after 23 minutes when Sam Smith leapt highest to head home from a Callum Doyle cross. Smith then threatened with a superb long-range strike that goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid tipped over; from the resulting corner Max Cleworth rose to turn in George Dobson's cross and double the lead. Portsmouth pulled one back in the 49th minute as Zak Swanson latched onto a Regan Poole pass and beat Arthur Okonkwo with a strike that took a deflection off Callum Doyle. Despite heavy pressure and a series of corners, Portsmouth could not find an equaliser.

How the match unfolded at the Racecourse Ground / Stok Cae Ras

Wrexham looked on course for a comfortable night after the two early goals, but the contest had contested spells. George Dobson had a first-minute effort that went wide, and Pompey's Millenic Alli delivered a couple of dangerous low crosses. Gustavo Caballero had a shot blocked and led another attack that broke down on the edge of the area. Josh Windass also dragged a shot wide as Wrexham settled and began to take control before opening the scoring.

Illness, grit and managerial reaction

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson revealed the squad had been affected by a sickness bug in the build-up, with Sam Smith among those struggling and ultimately unable to complete the game. Parkinson said energy levels were not where the team wanted them to be, that the group had had illness in the camp in recent days, and that the players had to "dig deep" and show another side to their game. He noted Smith was struggling at half-time and urged him to stay on for another spell, telling him to give "another 15 minutes. " Parkinson judged the first half to be excellent, while conceding the side did not quite control the second period but still found a way to win.

Portsmouth response and injury picture

Portsmouth dominated much of the second half and created sustained pressure but struggled to carve Wrexham open, a pattern that followed a poor second quarter for Pompey and a failing to defend a near-post corner. John Swift was lost to a hamstring injury, noted as a blow for the visitors, though Conor Chaplin was fit again. Observers flagged that the run of fixtures would test Portsmouth's thin squad. Comment and reaction from the Portsmouth camp have included the view that, if they keep playing as they have been, "Pompey should survive. "

Late chances, context and what's next

Wrexham could have made victory more comfortable: Oliver Rathbone hit a post and George Thomason tested Nicolas Schmid in a late flurry, but the hosts had already done enough to take three points. The win followed a frenetic 5-3 victory over promotion rivals Ipswich and comes with an FA Cup tie against Chelsea to come, a fixture drawn as an away tie for Chelsea. Collectively these results have tightened Wrexham's grip on the top six in the Championship and fuel momentum for the remainder of the campaign.

Implications for both clubs

• Wrexham: a hard-fought win that reinforces their push for a fourth successive promotion and strengthens their position in the play-off places despite recent illness in the squad.
• Portsmouth: a strong second-half showing but questions over squad depth, the impact of John Swift's hamstring injury, and a need to convert pressure into a cutting edge to avoid a sustained drop down the table; the chaotic nature of the league means fortunes can change quickly.

Details in this report are drawn from match coverage of the Wrexham Vs Portsmouth contest at the Racecourse Ground (Stok Cae Ras). Further developments — particularly player fitness updates and the scheduling around upcoming cup commitments — may evolve after this match.