Wrexham | Kieffer Moore scores a perfect hat-trick against Coventry

Wrexham 3 - 2 Coventry City

Kieffer Moore’s flawless hat-trick inspired Wrexham to a stirring comeback as they handed Championship leaders Coventry City their first league defeat of the season.

Author | Steffan Ingram

Stadium | STōK Cae Ras

Ephron Mason-Clark had given Frank Lampard’s side the advantage midway through the first half at the Stok Cae Ras, firing home his second goal of the campaign. But Moore turned the game on its head after the break, scoring three times in 23 minutes to take his tally to nine for the season and cap Wrexham’s standout performance of the campaign so far.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s late strike in the 88th minute offered Coventry a glimmer of hope, but they could not find a leveller and saw their unbeaten league run come to an end. The result leaves the Sky Blues three points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough, albeit having played a game more, and denies them a club-record seventh straight league win.

For Phil Parkinson’s men, the victory marked back-to-back home league successes for the first time this season, lifting them to 11th in the table and offering a statement of intent against one of the division’s high-flyers.

Closer analysis of what happened

Before kick-off, Frank Lampard had spoken warmly about Wrexham’s remarkable rise through the divisions, but it did not take long for the former midfielder to realise his side were in for a testing afternoon.

Both teams created early openings, with Josh Windass firing well over and Liam Kitching glancing a Matt Grimes corner narrowly wide. The home crowd grew restless when Lewis O’Brien hesitated to shoot after being found by Windass, yet Wrexham continued to match the Championship leaders stride for stride.

After Grimes sent a free-kick off target, Wrexham spurned a golden opportunity when Windass’s cross reached O’Brien, whose low effort was superbly saved by Carl Rushworth. They were made to pay immediately, as Tatsuhiro Sakamoto lofted a pass over the top for Ephron Mason-Clark to guide past Arthur Okonkwo.

Coventry’s clinical edge underlined why they have been among the division’s most dangerous sides this season, and although Wrexham regularly found themselves in promising areas, their finishing lacked precision. Max Cleworth’s powerful strike flashed wide shortly after the restart, while the visitors looked increasingly content to sit deep and counter, with Haji Wright dragging a shot wide.

The hosts’ persistence finally told on the hour when Issa Kabore combined with Windass, whose cross was met by Kieffer Moore to level the scores. Nine minutes later, Windass again provided the delivery, this time for Moore to steer a header into the corner and send the Stok Cae Ras into raptures.

Lampard turned to his bench, introducing Ellis Simms, Victor Torp, Josh Eccles and Jay Dasilva as Coventry chased a way back. But Moore completed a perfect hat-trick seven minutes from time, smashing home with his left foot after another Windass assist, becoming the first Wrexham player since Mick Vinter in 1982 to score a league treble.

Sakamoto’s curling strike in the closing moments reduced the deficit and set up a tense finale, but Wrexham held firm to claim a famous win and inflict Coventry’s first league defeat of the season under Lampard.