A blistering opening spell of ruthless finishing saw Wrexham progress to the second round of the FA Trophy and in some small way make up for their FA Cup exit in midweek.
There was considerably less at stake on Saturday than the last time Wrexham entertained Boston United at the Racecourse, but it was a case of job done as the Dragons avoided exiting a knock out competition for the second time in less than a week.
The visit of the Pilgrims had all the earmarks of a potential banana skin; Wrexham perhaps still reeling from their FA Cup exit at Newport County, while the steadily worsening conditions threatened to be the ultimate leveller against a side from the National League North.
It might only have been a crumb of comfort following their FA Cup disappointment in South Wales on Tuesday, and while the riches are considerably less, there is still a realistic chance of silverware to be coveted.
The last time these two sides met was in a final day showdown in May 2007 with both sides fighting to avoid the indignation of losing their Football League status.
Wrexham, backed by a 12,374 strong crowd, claimed victory that day to ensure their own version of the ‘great escape’, while Boston plummeted down the ranks and now find themselves in the sixth tier of the pyramid.
The Dragons’ stay of execution would be one that would last a mere 12-months as they were to follow the Lincolnshire side out of the Football League the following campaign.
Fast forward 11 seasons and there was considerably less importance to the contest as the Dragons embarked on their Trophy campaign, this time a crowd of only 1,083 - which included 80 in the away end - braving the weather to attend.
They were however treated to a stunning opening spell of clinical finishing from the Dragons, who opened the scoring with just 58 seconds on the clock.
A second would come inside the 10-minute mark with from their second foray forward, while a third to wrap up the game duly arrived little after the half hour, the biggest question posed being ‘where has this level of potency in front of goal been hiding of late?’
Caretaker boss Graham Barrow made five changes to his starting XI, handing former Boston goalkeeper Christian Dibble a first start of the season in place of a rested Rob Lainton who dropped to bench duty.
Nicky Deverdics, Chris Holroyd and Mike Fondop also all started in place of Luke Young (suspended), Stuart Beavon (bench) and Bobby Grant (bench), while Brad Walker took over at centre-half alongside Jake Lawlor with Shaun Pearson rested.
And it was a dream start for Wrexham with three of the recalled stars linking up to put the Dragons ahead inside the opening minute.
Fondop won a header to feed Deverdics, who in turn played in Paul Rutherford, his cross turned home by an unmarked Holroyd on the six yard box.
And it became 2-0 inside 10 minutes, Rutherford collecting a Deverdics flick to play in Fondop, the striker, who has endured a goal drought since scoring five in the opening six games, showing a killer instinct that has been lacking from his play of late with a coolly taken finish from the edge of the box.
Holroyd almost all but killed the tie off two minutes later, beating the offside trap to reach Mark Carrington’s deft throughball, the forward’s effort fired low across the face of goal.
Boston had been enjoying the majority of possession, Wrexham happy to sit deep and play a counter attacking style.
It was a tactic that had reaped early rewards, yet they almost paid a heavy price as Walker was caught on the ball by Gavin Allott, his cross eventually finding Max Wright, who could only fire an effort over the top, Allott then shortly after steering a header wide of the mark from Nicky Walker’s cross, Ryan Qualter just unable to get on the end at the back post.
A deflected Allott header was cleared away for a corner by Holroyd, the Pilgrim’s striker then missing an even better chance moments later as he steered a header wide.
And the visitors were left to rue those misses as the Dragons made it 3-0 on 32 minutes with devastating effect, Deverdics releasing Rutherford on the left, the winger coolly slotting home beyond George Willis.
It was always going to be difficult to maintain the same level of intensity after the break, the conditions continuing to hamper both sides, but Wrexham still needed to close out the contest and they claimed yet another clean sheet thanks to two smart saves from Dibble.
The goalkeeper had been reduced to the role of spectator for the entire first half, but was called into action within two minutes of the restart, getting down well to keep out Walker’s flick after Allott had disposed James Jennings out wide.
Fondop was denied a second by an outstretched boot from Qualter as he tried to reach Jennings’ chipped cross, Willis then palming away a drive from the left-back as he enjoyed a foray forward, Wrexham in control of the game without creating much by way of chances after the restart.
Dibble did well to hold a Jay Rollins effort, more so given the worsening conditions as the rain continued to fall throughout, while at the other end in the added on time, Willis pulled off an excellent save to ensure a modicum of respectability to the scoreline as he dived full length to push a Fondop effort away.
WREXHAM (4-1-2-1-2): Dibble; Carrington, Lawlor, Walker, Jennings; Wright; Summerfield, Deverdics; Rutherford (Sargent 84); Fondop, Holroyd.
SUBS: Lainton, Beavon, Thorn, Grant.
BOSTON UNITED (4-3-3): Willis; Davies, Harris, Qualter, Jackson; Thanoj, Abbott, Agnew; Wright (Rollins 79), Allott (Slew 73), Walker (Gibbens 57).
SUBS: Malkowski, Wafula.
REFEREE: Simon Mather.
ATT: 1,083 (80 - away)
MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Rutherford - Scored one and set up two others in an excellent showing.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The move for the opening goal - Mike Fondop, Nicky Deverdics and Paul Rutherford all combining to set up Chris Holroyd for a coolly taken finish.
