FA Cup

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FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 4, 2015 at 3pm UK

Stoke Stoke City
3-1
Wrexham

Arnautovic (80'), Ireland (88', 90')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Carrington (73')

Stoke City break Wrexham hearts with late rally

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 04 January 2015

Stoke City score three late goals to defeat non-league Wrexham 3-1 their FA Cup third round clash at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke City scored three late goals to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win against non-league Wrexham at the Britannia Stadium.

Stephen Ireland of Stoke City scores his team's third goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Stoke City and Wrexham at Britannia Stadium on January 4, 2015 © Getty Images

After a quiet start to the game, the first chance fell to the hosts as Steve Sidwell saw his header from a corner saved by goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt.

The Conference Premier side held their own for the majority of the first half and did not look fazed against top-flight opposition.

Just before the half-hour mark, however, they came close to a disastrous gaffe as Blaine Hudson's header back to an out-of-position Flatt nearly went in, but he managed to do just enough to keep the ball out.

The Potters stepped it up in the latter stages of the half and nearly scored when Oussama Assaidi weaved past two defenders before firing a shot that required a block from Manny Smith.

Mark Carrington of Wrexham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Stoke City and Wrexham at Britannia Stadium on January 4, 2015 © Getty Images

Moments later, a half-cleared corner fell to Phil Bardsley, who fired a long-range shot that collided with a Stoke teammate in the box.

Ryan Shawcross then flashed a header past the right-hand post in first-half injury time as both sides went in at the break without having broken the deadlock.

Following the restart, Stoke pushed forward and nearly scored when Geoff Cameron connected with an in-swinging free kick, but the American international fired over the bar.

The Welsh club appeared confident, however, and drew gasps from an increasingly-anxious home crowd when Wes York smashed a shot against the crossbar midway through the second half.

Blaine Hudson and Jonathan Flatt of Wrexham attempt to clear the ball during the FA Cup Third Round match between Stoke City and Wrexham at Britannia Stadium on January 4, 2015 © Getty Images

In the 73rd minute, Wrexham then sent 5,000 visiting fans wild when a Connor Jennings cross from the right found Mark Carrington, whose thumping header beat Jack Butland to give his side the lead.

Just as it seemed as if though Wrexham were on the verge of securing an historic giant-killing, Marko Arnautovic fired home into an empty net to level proceedings, following a rebound from Peter Crouch's effort.

Only two minutes before time, the hosts snatched the lead when Stephen Ireland bundled the ball past Flatt following a penalty-box scramble.

In injury time, Wrexham hearts were well and truly broken when the former Manchester City and Aston Villa man grabbed his second to guarantee Stoke passage into the fourth round.