Wrexham took home all three points, as Phil Parkinson’s side overcame the 10 men of Woking 3-2 at the Kingfield Stadium on Saturday evening.
Aaron Hayden continued his scoring form of the season prior, as two of his headers twice gave Wrexham the lead.
Ollie Palmer touched home the third Wrexham goal, before Woking would narrow the scoreline via the penalty spot at the end of the game.
Wrexham named an unchanged side to the team that breezed past Maidstone United in the previous fixture, in front of Co-Chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
The late kick-off commenced with Wrexham outside of the Play-Offs by two points and behind Wealdstone in top spot by five. Woking began the fixture with two wins and two losses, in 14th position.
Woking would kick-off the fixture in front of over three thousand fans, including 606 from Wrexham.
A misplaced cross-field pass by James Jones in the Woking half, allowed Kyran Lofthouse to be released and make a run into the Wrexham box, where his tame shot was easily collected by Mark Howard with four minutes on the clock.
After running past Jacob Mendy, the dangerous Lofthouse took a loose touch and slid in to reach the ball. Luke Young reached the ball first and Lofthouse caught the Wrexham captain’s shin, immediately being shown a straight red card with only 18 minutes gone.
A snap-shot from Young on the half-hour mark fizzed into the hands of Craig Ross in the Woking net from 30 yards out, as Wrexham tested the Cards’ goalkeeper.
Mullin whipped in an inverted cross from the left-wing, which found Hayden, completely unmarked at the back-post, where he was able to guide a cool header into the Woking net with 35 minutes gone.
Tussling between corners was a common theme throughout the first half, even seeing Hayden being thrown to the ground. The referee’s patience grew thin, seeing him book both Jones and Padraig Amond in the 43rd minute.
Half-time was called, shortly after a clever move between Davies and Mullin, almost setting the latter through, and Wrexham would enter the changing rooms a goal to the good, after Woking were reduced to 10 men.
Amond sprinted down the right-wing just two minutes after the restart, before slamming a cross to the back-post, where Daly was onrushing to control the ball home at the far-post with the side of his foot.
After a brief glimpse of Woking pressure following the goal, Wrexham continued controlling the game, but failed to create any substantial opportunities.
The introduction of Elliot Lee and subsequent formation change with Cleworth’s departure was a watershed moment in Wrexham’s attacking performance.
Tozer’s lofted cross was pinned to the back-post, where Hayden’s head beat a frantic Ross to the ball, allowing the ball to slide into the empty Woking net with 68 minutes gone.
Lee was continuing to cause problems for the 10 men and his whipped-in cross found the toe of Luke Wilkinson. The ball was trickling past the goalline, before Palmer tapped the ball home to stretch Wrexham’s lead to 3-1
A quick burst from Woking on the half-way line gave the Cards a two-on-one scenario, where Reece Grego-Cox was easily slotted through. A charging Young slid in from behind and did win the ball as the substitute was about to shoot, but the referee immediately gave a penalty and booked the Wrexham captain in the 84th minute.
Grego-Cox smashed home his penalty in the 85th minute and gave the Cards some hope for the remainder of the game.
Six added minutes would not be enough for the home side and Wrexham would take home all three points to North Wales, after a gutsy performance.
Woking: Ross (GK), Moss, Cuthbert, Wilkinson, Casey (C) (Johnson 79’), Anderson, Kellermann (Roles 69’), Ince, Lofthouse, Amond (Grego-Cox 69’), Daly
Subs not used: McNerney, Wady
Wrexham: (3-4-1-2): Howard (GK), Forde, Hayden, Tozer, Cleworth (Lee 59’) Mendy (Hosannah 65’), Young, J.Jones, Davies, Mullin, Palmer (Dalby 83’)
Subs not used: Watson (GK), O’Connor
Attendance: 3,185 (606 Wrexham fans)
Woking Bookings: Lofthouse Red Card 18’ (foul), Daly 36’ (simulation), Amond 43’ (off-the ball incident)
Wrexham Bookings: J.Jones 43’ (off-the ball incident), Young 84’ (foul)
Man of the Match: Aaron Hayden