Manager Andy Davies reflected on the disappointment of Wrexham’s failed bid to qualify for the Vanarama Conference play-offs.
Their goalless draw against AFC Fylde left Wrexham 10th and Davies said after his final match in charge: “When you look back we set records for clean sheets and an unbeaten run, but we have not killed teams off at tines. We know that.
“We haven’t won enough matches. Earlier in the season when games were tight we were edging them 1-0, but that changed and we were involved in too many draws.
“We have made strides and improvements. Our objective was to qualify for the play-offs at least and we failed. The players and staff all know it wasn’t good enough towards the back end of the season.”
Davies took charge after Dean Keates left Wrexham to take charge of his home town team Walsall.
The Dragons had been top in February under Keates, but their challenge faded and died.
Wrexham kept 22 clean sheets, beating the club record set in 1973-74 and 2002-03, while they had an 16-match unbeaten run. The unfortunate thing was that there were only five wins with 11 drawn.
AFC Fylde, who had Luke Burke sent off for a second booking late on, qualified for the National League play-offs thanks to the goalless draw. They travel to Aldershot for their play-offs fixture.
Wrexham’s Scott Quigley and Paul Rutherford both hit posts, but they could not force the win and have earned only one victory in their last nine league games following the departure of Keates.
The visitors looked the more dangerous, although Wrexham nearly went in front early on with their first attack of note when
Quigley’s shot flew just wide
Shaun Pearson headed off the line after a mistake by goalkeeper Chris Dunn mistake and the Fylde problems on the break.
Jack Mackreth, on for the injured Quigley, was lively in attack, but there was a familiar lack of penetration in the final third.
Sam Wedbgury headed another Fylde effort off the line following a corner and Dunn was forced into a flying save.
Burke’s dismissal with five minutes was a blow for Fylde, but they held on to the draw and claimed their place in the top seven.
Wrexham: Dunn, Roberts, Smith, Wedgbury, Jennings, Pearson, Rutherford, Wright, Kelly, Quigley (Mackreth 10, Deverdics 76), Boden. Subs not used: Raven, Dibble, Ainge
AFC Fylde: Lynch, Burke, Grand, Bond, Tunnicliffe, Francis-Angol, Smith, Hardy (Muldoon 57), Montrose, Finley, Rowe (Taylor 87). Subs not used: Blinkhorn, Jones, Lawlor.
Referee: Alan Young (Cambs)
Attendance: 3,931 (away 503)
National League 2017/18
Final table
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Macclesfield | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 31 | 19 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 27 | +21 | 92 (C) |
| 2 | Tranmere | 46 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 48 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 23 | +32 | 82 |
| 3 | Sutton Utd | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 28 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 31 | 25 | +14 | 79 |
| 4 | Boreham W | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 25 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 31 | 22 | +17 | 75 |
| 5 | Aldershot | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 35 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 29 | +12 | 75 |
| 6 | Ebbsfleet | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 35 | 23 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 29 | 27 | +14 | 74 |
| 7 | AFC Fylde | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 51 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 31 | 29 | +26 | 73 |
| 8 | Dover | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 32 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 27 | +18 | 73 |
| 9 | Bromley | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 38 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 37 | 35 | +17 | 70 |
| 10 | Wrexham | 46 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 31 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 22 | +10 | 70 |
| 11 | Dag & Red | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 40 | 32 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 29 | 30 | +7 | 68 |
| 12 | Maidenhead | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 36 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 40 | -1 | 64 |
| 13 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 33 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 30 | +2 | 60 |
| 14 | Eastleigh | 46 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 33 | 34 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 38 | -7 | 56 |
| 15 | Hartlepool | 46 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 37 | -10 | 56 |
| 16 | Halifax | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 31 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 28 | -10 | 55 |
| 17 | Gateshead | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 34 | 27 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 28 | 31 | +4 | 54 |
| 18 | Solihull M | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 30 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 30 | -11 | 54 |
| 19 | Maidstone | 46 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 27 | 33 | -12 | 54 |
| 20 | Barrow | 46 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 23 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 34 | -12 | 49 |
| 21 | Woking | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 32 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 23 | 44 | -21 | 48 |
| 22 | Torquay | 46 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 36 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 37 | -28 | 42 (R) |
| 23 | Chester | 46 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 37 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 22 | 42 | -37 | 37 (R) |
| 24 | Guiseley | 46 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 21 | 33 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 23 | 56 | -45 | 33 (R) |
