Wrexham achieved another landmark moment in their meteoric rise under the ownership of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac after reaching the last 16 of England’s FA Cup for the first time since 1997 on Friday.
Wrexham beat fellow second-tier Championship side Ipswich Town 1-0 in north Wales to clinch their place in the fifth round draw after a 29-year absence.
Josh Windass scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute to give Phil Parkinson’s side the win.
– Wrexham have Premier League in sight, 5 years after Reynolds and Mac takeover
“We spoke before the game about our chance to create a bit of history,” manager Parkinson said. “We’ve done it, and I’m so pleased because it was always going to be a tough game against a very good side.”
“This season, with the challenge of being in the Championship and now an FA Cup run, we want to enjoy it, and tonight we certainly did.”
This week marked the fifth anniversary of Wrexham’s takeover, which took place when the club were in the fifth-tier National League.
Wrexham are currently sixth in the Championship and bidding for a fourth consecutive promotion that would take them into the Premier League and a place in the top tier for the first time in their 158-year history.
“I think it’s great for our owners, to get them into the fifth round,” Parkinson added.
“We can really look forward to the draw on Monday night when we’ll be in a hotel in Bristol. We’ll savor that but, obviously, it’s the back burner now for the FA Cup, and we’ll concentrate on the league.”
Friday’s win was the second time Wrexham have beaten opposition ranked above them in this season’s FA Cup after upsetting Premier League Nottingham Forest in the previous round.
Josh Windass struck the goal that sent Wrexham into the fifth round of the FA Cup. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Ipswich sit seven points above Wrexham in third place and are hoping for an immediate return to the league they left last summer
By making 10 changes for this encounter, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna indicated his priority is the league rematch on Feb. 21.
The unfamiliarity in Ipswich’s lineup played into Wrexham’s hands but, after failing to take advantage of a goalkeeper error in the first minute, it took them some time to settle into the contest.
They could have gone ahead after Alex Palmer came out of his area to head away a long ball but failed to make clean contact.
Windass retrieved the ball out wide and whipped it into the area for Sam Smith, but Palmer scrambled back to smother his shot.
There was little else to excite the crowd on a chilly evening until Windass pounced on 34 minutes. George Thomason overhit a cross from the left, but Ryan Longman recovered on the opposite side and centered for Windass to turn in.
Ollie Rathbone went close to doubling the lead moments later after turning on the edge of the box, but Palmer produced a brilliant one-handed save to push away his curling effort.
In a lively end to a largely dull first half, Thomason fizzed in a dangerous low cross, but Ipswich managed to clear.
The visitors almost equalized after the break when a long throw-in by Jens Cajuste led to a goalmouth scramble but Arthur Okonkwo blocked from Chuba Akpom on the line. Max Cleworth also got in the way of an Akpom effort, and Elkan Baggott shot wide.
Ipswich’s greater urgency forced Wrexham back for a long spell. Wrexham weathered that storm and Windass forced a save from Palmer from a wide angle.
Windass had further opportunities but saw another shot blocked before Palmer dealt with a glancing header.
Palmer went forward for a late corner as Ipswich tried to force extra time, but Wrexham held on for a memorable win.
PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
