- Wrexham met Notts County on April 10, 2023
- A thriller of Hollywood proportions unfolded
- The Red Dragons’ rise ignited
This past weekend, football fans witnessed one of the most dramatic non-league games of all time between Rochdale and York City, with title aspirations going down to the wire. In 2023, a similar storyline was set between Wrexham and Notts County.
Both competitors had new ownership groups take over the clubs in prior years. County had Danish brothers Alexander and Christoffer Reedtz introduce data-driven recruitment to Meadow Lane, while Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney brought Hollywood to Welsh lands.
Many will talk about York’s success for years to come, much like Wrexham’s famous win over Notts County. Here is a look at a match set in stone, as two non-league mammoths met to book their place in the football league.
Tale of the tape
The Red Dragons had been in the non-league system for 15 years up until their outing against County, but they had come on in leaps and bounds since American ownership settled.
Exciting wasn’t the word for the project; rather, it was inspiring in how far it could take the club. In turn, they were able to attract players like never before, such as Elliot Lee from Championship side Luton Town, Andy Cannon from Hull City, and former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster later in the season.
Down south, the Black and Whites were building a force to be reckoned with. Summer signing Macaulay Langstaff led the line, who had scored 40 goals in 41 appearances before the juggernauts met on a fateful Easter Monday.
Outside the ground, fans queued as anticipation grew amongst everyone involved, with the stakes unbelievably high.
Wrexham had looked in control, but a slip against Halifax Town saw Luke Williams’ team return to the top of the league. So how would this battle shape up at the Racecourse?
Wrexham clash with Notts County
The tension was in the air, with both teams already securing 100 points, 106 goals, but knowing only one side would go up as champions. The other set to battle it out in a gruelling playoff contest.
Stands were packed to the brim, and a chorus of cheers echoed through the old ground as the teams took to the pitch ahead of a long-awaited affair.
The Red Dragons’ star forward, Paul Mullin, was alive and awake to any danger he could cause the County backline in the opening phases, which caused goalkeeper Sam Slocombe a plethora of issues.
Despite the early pressure, the away side had taken the lead on the stroke of half time as a moment of magic from John Bostock beat Foster from distance.
Promotion was slipping through their fingers as they made their way to the dressing room. Phil Parkinson had an almighty job on his hands to inspire a team that had been hurt by promotion pushes in the past.
It took just three minutes for confidence to be refilled as Mullin blasted the ball into the bottom corner to tie the game. Both teams battled it out, resulting in a stalemate, until the game headed into the final 20 minutes.
First up was a Wrexham goal, as their forward served up Jacob Mendy on a plate. He made no mistake and fired the ball home before the scores were levelled once again through the head of Kyle Cameron. However, three minutes later the home side took the lead once again, as a scramble in the box came the way of Lee, who placed it under the keeper into the net.
The ground was bouncing after a mad 10-minute period, which looked to ensure the Red Dragons’ return to the football league, but things were far from over.
In the dying seconds, a delightful ball was played across Foster’s box, and as it was headed goal-bound, it struck a hand. Penalty. Heart-in-your-mouth moment for everyone in the ground, and everyone else watching on TV.
Cedwyn Scott took the responsibility. Over 106 goals, over 100 points. Everything came down to this moment. Foster leapt to his right and stretched as far as he could as his fingertips reached the sweet struck ball and tipped it around the post. Bedlam had taken over North Wales.
The fairytale is far from over
As the final whistle went, the fans knew they were on the brink of being named champions, and it was confirmed just 12 days later in a 3-1 win at the Racecourse over Boreham Wood.
County were heartbroken, but they would travel to Wembley and beat Chesterfield on penalties to make their return to League Two.
Today, the Red Dragons’ are sat in the Championship playoffs, where a win over fellow promotion-chasing Middlesbrough next weekend could make something possible that has never been achieved, as they have been promoted each season since their non-league championship campaign.
That day in April 2023, a story was told of what had been built at the club. A fearless attitude to win at all costs and bring their fans some of the greatest moments in their lives.
Before the game, Reynolds said, “This was a game people will talk about for ages, and the attention coming from the National League is special, but worthy of this town.”
He’s right, and while the majority of that squad no longer calls Wrexham their home, they are viewed as legends in the team’s history for paving the path for success.
