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Paul Mullin scored a brace as Wrexham beat Boreham Wood to secure a long-awaited return to the Football League ahead of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Mullin took his goal tally for the season to 47 providing a script worthy of Wrexham’s co-owners – Hollywood actors Reynolds and McElhenney – who were in a crowd of 10,162 to see the Welsh club secure the National League title.
Boreham Wood had threatened to be the latest killjoy with Lee Ndlovu scoring in the first minute, but Elliot Lee equalized before Mullin stole the second half with two superb solo strikes.
Reynolds and McElhenney, who had been joined by fellow Hollywood star Paul Rudd in their executive lounge area, celebrated as Wrexham’s title and promotion were confirmed and Notts County’s stalwart challenge was finally concluded.
County’s 5-2 win at Maidstone earlier in the day ensured Wrexham had to win to avoid the title race being decided on the final weekend of the season.
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The match fell on the 45th anniversary of Wrexham’s promotion to the second tier of English football when Mickey Thomas and company defeated Rotherham 7-1 in a frenzied Racecourse Ground.
Nearly half a century later he was expected to be much tougher with Boreham Wood boasting the nastiest defense in the National League, having conceded just 35 goals in 43 games.
Boreham Wood, seventh at kick-off, were also in the play-off fray with their own aspirations of playing in the Football League this season.
What happened in the first 43 seconds certainly wasn’t in Wrexham’s script.
Eoghan O’Connell hashish in clearing Jack Payne’s pass and Ndlovu coolly chipped the blocked Ben Foster.
The racecourse was dead silent save for the pocket of visiting supporters, and Boreham Wood could take confidence that they had not lost in the last 43 games they had taken the lead, a run dating back to 2021.
But Wrexham were not deterred by the setback and Ben Tozer headed in under pressure before it was equalized after 15 minutes.
Ryan Barnett delivered a delightful cross from the right and the unmarked Lee headed in his 14th goal of the season.
Chances came and went at both ends, Zak Brunt firing high from 25 yards and Boreham Wood came even closer when Femi Ilesanmi headed his header wide at the far post.
Mullin sent a spectacular bicycle kick wide before a more conventional effort was unable to trouble goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore.
But Mullin’s next attempt in the seventh minute of the second half was a sensational effort which sent the racecourse into a frenzy.
Is there no end to his talent?
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) April 22, 2023
Mullin chased a forward ball into the corner and nothing seemed to work even as he turned away from David Agbontohoma and cut inside towards the penalty area.
But Mullin advanced into the box to unleash a superb curling right footed shot past Ashmore and into the top corner of the net.
Mullin gave them precious breathing space after 71 minutes as he skillfully dismissed a defender to race another, Will Evans, to find a yardstick and beat Ashmore’s diving with a determined left footed strike.
He finally took Wrexham out of County reach with 110 runs and marked their return to the Football League after relegation in 2008.
