The journey back to the Football League has been long and torturous for Wrexham, not simply decorated by Hollywood stardust and riches all the way, but the promised land is within their grasp after 15 years away. On an unforgettable afternoon against Notts County, their closest rivals for automatic promotion from the National League and another historic club rebuilding for better days, Wrexham reclaimed top spot with a script Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney may have considered too outlandish.
Less than a month after coming out of retirement, the 40‑year‑old goalkeeper Ben Foster saved a 96th‑minute penalty to deliver a victory that leaves Phil Parkinson’s team three points clear with four games to play. Wrexham trailed at the interval but stirred along with an impassioned crowd to lead 3-2 with 11 minutes left.
Then, in the final act, the defender Eoghan O’Connell was penalised for handling a Macaulay Langstaff header at point-blank range inside the Wrexham area. The Notts County substitute Cedwyn Scott drilled the spot-kick towards Foster’s bottom right-hand corner. The veteran saved superbly, the wonderful Racecourse Ground erupted and Wrexham’s celebrity owners had their Hollywood ending. Well, almost.
Parkinson was at pains to stress that the one automatic promotion spot is not yet guaranteed. More certain, as Foster told the owners in the dressing room afterwards, is that Reynolds and McElhenney may never again witness a game as entertaining or exhausting as this.
“Rob kissed me fully on the lips and Ryan called me a double handsome bastard – I’ll take that from him,” the former Watford and West Brom goalkeeper said.
“They’re over the moon, and I said you’d better end the documentary now because you’ll never get a better game of football than that, no matter how many you go to. They’re probably worn out along with everyone else.
“That penalty save, and what it meant to the fans, is as good a feeling as you’re going to get in football. I’ve played over 500 games in my career and probably had two of those moments that you could bottle. I’ve got goosebumps thinking about it again now. I’ve never celebrated a save before, it’s such a douchebag thing to do, but I couldn’t help myself. I know how much that means for Wrexham.”
Inspired by the striker Paul Mullin, who scored a vital equaliser before setting up goals for Jacob Mendy and Elliot Lee, Wrexham recorded a 20th win in 21 home league games this season – the other was drawn – as they and Notts County produced a contest that fulfilled the pre-match hype as the biggest game in the history of non-league football.
The two clubs started the day on 100 points apiece, 25 points clear of third-placed Woking, and with Wrexham’s owners visiting the civic hall to receive the freedom of the borough award. (Guardian)