Second-half goals from Tom O’Connor, Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin fired Wrexham to victory at Gateshead, and back to the top of the Vanarama National League table.
With Notts County’s match at Solihull Moors postponed, Wrexham knew before kicking off that any positive result would be enough to return to the summit.
And after a goalless first-half, O’Connor’s header, Palmer’s tap-in – one year to the day from his arrival at the Racecourse – and Mullin’s powerful finish saw the Red Dragons do just that.
Wrexham made just one change from the team which started the 3-2 win against Maidstone three days previously, as Palmer started ahead of Sam Dalby.
Neither side made any real early inroads at the International Stadium, however, and the game’s first chance did not arrive until the 18th minute. Mullin got in behind on the left, and stood a right-footed cross up for Palmer, but Filip Marschall saved the big striker’s header.
At the other end, Danny Elliott ran onto Greg Olley’s through ball on 28 minutes, after the captain stole possession in midfield, but Mark Howard tipped over.
On the half-hour, Mullin cleverly spun his marker to run in and slip the ball across to Palmer, but Robbie Tinkler’s pressure was enough to stop Wrexham’s number nine from getting in on goal.
Scorer of the opening goal on Saturday, Luke Young half-volleyed over on 40 minutes, this time on his right-foot, when Ben Tozer’s first long throw of the game was headed into his path.
Gateshead had the best chance of the half, however, with just a minute remaining – Kamil Conteh released Adam Campbell in the area, but his low, right-footed shot was too close to Mark Howard.
Wrexham started the second-half with more urgency and O’Connor shot straight at Marschall on 48 minutes after Callum McFadzean’s shot deflected to him.
Danny Elliott sliced a shot wide across goal at the other end, but then on 50 minutes Mullin dug a shot out after Anthony Forde’s low pass in to the area, which Marschall parried wide.
Gateshead were masters of their own downfall when O’Connor headed Wrexham in front on 61 minutes, however.
First Marschall flapped at Tozer’s long throw-in, and then when the ball dropped at Quevin Castro’s feet, his clearance looped up off a team-mate for O’Connor to flick a header in.
Palmer then doubled the lead on 67 minutes, following in from close-range after Lee’s shot – created by good link-up between McFadzean and Mullin – was parried straight to him.
Lee, diving low, then headed wide from Forde’s right-wing cross on 80 minutes as Wrexham defender from the front.
Mark Howard was rarely troubled at the other end, but Louis Storey’s low shot was comfortably dealt with on 88 minutes.
And Mullin put the game beyond doubt in the second of six added minutes, firing straight into the middle of the goal after Dalby’s clever flick around the corner.
Line-ups
Gateshead: Marschall, Tinkler, Richardson, Storey, Pye, Bailey (Forbes 60), Conteh, Olley, Castro (Knight 73), Campbell, Elliott (Martin 77)
Subs: Ward, Magnay
Wrexham: Howard, Hayden, Tozer, Tunnicliffe, Forde, Young, O’Connor, McFadzean, Lee (J.Jones 89), Palmer (Dalby 84), Mullin (90+3)
Subs: Lainton, McAlinden
Referee: Matthew Dicicco
Attendance: 1,422 (686 away)
Bookings:
Gateshead: Pye (38, foul)