Saturday's results opened the title race up, but there's no time to enjoy the feeling, as another chapter in the dramatic National League story opens after just one day's rest.
The fluid situation at the top of the table could be further shaken up on a day when leaders Stockport County visit Chesterfield, one of the division's powerhouses, while Wrexham face Stockport's conquerors. Boreham Wood. Brace yourself for the sort of drama you couldn't make up.
Boreham Wood might have suffered a disastrous loss of form in recent weeks, dropping from title contenders to play-off hopefuls. However, they remain the side with the second-best defence in the division, and showed remarkable heart at Edgleley Park as they held onto the lead in the face of a Hatters onslaught.
Ex-Red Dragon Jamal Fyfield's goal turned out to be the winner in a 2-1 victory which, coupled with our 1-0 win over Southend United, cut Stockport's lead to one point.
In a campaign which saw them reach the 4th round of the FA Cup in brilliant manner, taking on Premier League, Championship and League One opposition, they have only conceded more than 2 goals in a game twice in 49 matches. However, both those occasions were at The Racecourse!
They arrived in North Wales for an FA Trophy tie in mid-February on a 17-game unbeaten streak, but lost 3-0. Three weeks later they followed up their brave 2-0 defeat at Everton in the FA Cup with another loss to Wrexham, this time conceding 4.
That was the beginning of a run which saw them winless in 11 games, losing 8. However, victory at Stockport, a week after they returned to winning ways against FA Trophy finalists Bromley, suggest that there's plenty for Wrexham to be wary about when they meet Luke Garrard's side. They need to win all 4 of their remaining game to retain an outside chance of getting into the play-offs, but tey might just be returning to the sort of form which would allow them to exactly that.
LAST TIME WE MET
We've faced Boreham Wood twice at The Racecourse already this season, and enjoyed emphatic wins both times. The league encounter saw us triumph 4-2, while an FA Trophy tie ended in a 3-0 win.
HEAD TO HEAD
A 12th minute goal by Connor Jennings earned victory in September 2015, but we ought to have won by more. However the Borehamwood goalkeeper had an inspired game and kept Wrexham at bay.
It was a different story the following season though, as John Rooney’s second half goal was the difference between two sides who rather cancelled each other out.
August 2017 witnessed perhaps our most gratifying win at Meadow Park. The home side were relentless but Wrexham matched them in an excellent performance, defending with real character against Borehamwood’s bombardment of long balls and looking dangerous on the break. Alex Reid’s header from a 61st minute corner by Paul Rutherford was enough to secure perhaps our most impressive victory of the season.
Ben Tollitt got both the goals in the next season, scoring a quick-fire half time double to secure a 2-0 victory, before our run of away wins over Boreham Wood came to an end at start of the 2019-20 season. Perhaps it shouldn’t have: Mark Harris scored a fine opener and when Bobby Grant added a second half way through the second period it looked like we would claim another victory.
However, Boreham Wood had been unlucky to go behind, and only a string of saves by Christian Dibble kept the home team at bay. It couldn't last, though, and they fought back to equalise late on.
Last season’s clash was dominated by Reece Hall-Johnson as Wrexham pulled off a stirring 3-2 win to keep our promotion hopes alive.
A lacklustre first half performance saw us come in for the break 2-0 down, a 45th minute goal from Kabongo Tschimanga putting us into a really difficult position. Dean Keates was clearly unhappy and responded decisively, making a double substitution for the second half. Dan Jarvis and Jordan Ponticelli came on to replace Rutherford and Gold Omotayo, and we immediately improved.
With Jarvis teasing the Wood defence down the left and Ponticelli working tirelessly up front, the match changed dramatically. Reece Hall-Johnson pulled a goal back after an hour, but despite dominating Wrexham were still trailling with 3 minutes left.
That was the point where Hall-Johnson swung a deep cross to the far post, which Ponticelli brilliantly stretched to head past the keeper, and in the final minute Jarvis provided an intelligent pull-back which Hall-Johnson drove home to earn a memorable win.
Surely this game will attract the biggest crowd to see Wrexham play a Boreham Wood. There has never been a four-figure attendance to witness the sides clash at Meadow Park. The highest crowd to witness one of Wrexham’s 6 trips to Boreham Wood was in August 2019 when 845 fans were in attendance.
POTENTIAL MILESTONES
Phil Parkinson's 50th game as Wrexham manager.
Ben Tozer's 425th career league appearance.
Dan Jarvis' 50th Wrexham appearance.