Wrexham 3-2 Notts County: Ben Foster saves injury-time penalty as Red Dragons edge thriller

Wrexham took a huge step towards a return to the EFL on Monday afternoon by edging a five-goal thriller 3-2 against National League title rivals Notts County at the Racecourse.

With just a single promotion place out of the fifth tier of English football’s league ladder available, only the National League champions will have a guaranteed place in League Two next season. The second to go up will come as a result of a play-off.

Both Wrexham, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney since 2020, and Notts County were locked on 100 points prior to kick-off. By the time game finished, the Red Dragons had opened up a three-point lead, with a game in hand and less than three of the regular season to go.

With Reynolds and McElhenney in attendance, recent short-term signing Ben Foster emerged as Wrexham’s hero of the hour. The veteran goalkeeper, who turned 40 last week, saved a 97th minute penalty from Notts County forward Cedwyn Scott by diving low to his right.

The scoring had been opened by the visitors deep into first-half stoppage time by John Bostock, once controversially signed by Tottenham at the age of 16. In the intervening years, he has played in North America and across Europe. Now 31, a stunning free-kick was his first goal since 2016.

But Wrexham drew level early in the second half thanks to Paul Mullin, whose arrival in north Wales was featured prominently in the first series of Welcome to Wrexham on Disney Plus. His first-time finish in the middle of the penalty area was a 44th goal in all competitions this season.

Wrexham proceeded to take the lead just over halfway through the second half through Jacob Mendy at the far post. But Notts County equalised only five minutes later from captain Kyle Cameron’s stooping back-post header following short corner.

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A third goal in the space of nine second half minutes put Wrexham ahead for the second and final time. This time, Mullin turned provider, capitalising on a botched Notts County clearance to square for Elliot Lee to fire low past the goalkeeper.

Notts County thought they had done enough to snatch a draw at the death, but Foster was equal to the spot-kick from Scott and the loose ball was hacked to safety by Wrexham defenders.

Wrexham need just seven more points from the 12 available to them to win the National League and get back into the EFL for the first time since 2008. Already 24 points clear of third place, Notts County are already well assured of at least a playoff berth but need a miracle if they to somehow snatch automatic promotion out of Wrexham’s hands.

Lineups

Wrexham: Foster; O'Connell, Tozer, Jones, Barnett; O'Connor, Mendy, Cannon (Young 84'), Lee; Mullin, Palmer (Dalby 72')

Notts County: Slocombe; Cameron, Bajrami. Bostock, Chicksen; Rawlinson, Nemane (Jones 77'), Palmer, O'Brien (Austin 69'); Rodrigues (Scott 77'), Langstaff