Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham held by side division below in FA Cup tie screened in USA

Wrexham were brought back down to earth with a bump as they were held 1-1 at Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup.

The Welsh side have been riding the crest of a wave ever since Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the National League club last year. Wrexham have received global attention thanks to their Disney+ documentary, while there was talk last week of a glamour friendly against MLS side Austin FC, part-owned by Matthew McConaughey.

But all of that was secondary to the task that awaited them on Saturday afternoon – an FA Cup 4th qualifying round tie against Blyth Spartans from the division below.

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The tie, which was brought forward to 1pm for US TV audiences, saw Blyth start the better and almost go in front on 13 minutes when Callum McFadzean had to be alert to clear Cory McKeown's shot off the line.

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Wrexham responded through Sam Dalby, who rattled the crossbar. The Red Dragons were made to wait until 15 minutes from time to opening the scoring when Tom O'Connor's free-kick was deflected in.

That looked to be that, only for Michael Richardson's in-swinging free-kick in injury time to evade everyone and nestle in the back of the net, securing a lucrative replay for Blyth.

The two sides will have to do it all again at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night, by which time both sides will know who awaits them in the first round.

Speaking after the game, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said: "We got ourselves ahead but to give away a cheap free-kick like we did in the swirling wind – a kind of wind-assisted goal – was disappointing, but we'll look forward to the replay on Tuesday.

"It was always going to be difficult today with the conditions and the tightness of the game. We battled well, we blocked things. We didn't show enough quality or care when we had the ball, but the conditions came into that a little bit."

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