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Match Reports

REPORT | Bromley 1–2 Wrexham

Mullin double sends Wrexham three points clear

18 March 2023

Match Reports

REPORT | Bromley 1–2 Wrexham

Mullin double sends Wrexham three points clear

18 March 2023

Paul Mullin scored his 39th and 40th goals of the season as Wrexham extended their lead at the top of the Vanarama National League table with victory away to Bromley.

Mullin headed Wrexham in front in the second-half, and added a second after Bromley keeper Sam Long’s error just moments later.

Michael Cheek pulled a goal back for Bromley to set up a nerve-wracking finale, but Wrexham stood firm to move three points clear of Notts County with a game in hand.

Wrexham were forced into one change from the team which started both games against Dagenham and Southend, with Elliot Lee missing out due to illness.

It meant a return in midfield for Jordan Davies, starting for the first time since the knee injury he suffered in the FA Cup Second Round match against Farnborough in November. Luke Young returned to the bench as a result.

Traffic en route to Hayes Lane caused a 15-minute delay to kick-off, but Wrexham were quickly into their stride when the game did get underway.

There were less than two minutes on the clock when Ollie Palmer’s header, from Ben Tozer’s throw, was hooked clear off the line.

In the sixth minute, it was Jacob Mendy’s turn to rise highest in the Bromley area – leaping to meet Ryan Barnett’s cross, only for his header to clip the top of the crossbar.

On the quarter-hour, James Jones ran through the middle and threaded a ball behind the defence, but a covering defender did well to block Paul Mullin’s shot.

From the resultant corner, Jordan Davies’ deep cross picked out Ben Tozer unmarked at the back post, but the Wrexham captain headed off the bar.

After weathering the early storm, however, Bromley started to put their own stamp on the game. The ball fell kindly for Callum Reynolds on 17 minutes, who spotted Rob Lainton off his line, but his long-range effort landed on the roof of the net.

A cross then fell for Michael Cheek in the area in the 24th minute, who took a touch and shot goalwards, but Tozer stuck out a right leg to block brilliantly.

Wrexham struggled for rhythm for a spell afterwards, and Bromley went close again on 41 minutes when Eoghan O’Connell was alert to the danger of a well-worked free-kick to deny Reynolds at the back post.

From the resultant corner, Wrexham could not get the ball clear and Ryan Stirk’s low shot was eventually deflected wide.

The Red Dragons were forced into a half-time change, as Rob Lainton’s bad luck at Hayes Lane continued – the goalkeeper taken off injured to be replaced by Mark Howard.

Wrexham did start the second-half better than they finished the first, however, and Mullin’s header – from Tozer’s cross – was saved low on 47 minutes.

Davies then found space outside the area on 53 minutes, but Sam Long parried his fierce, low shot clear and Mullin could not react to the rebound.

But Wrexham were in front on 58 minutes – James Jones pouncing on a defensive slip to stand a cross up for Mullin to head in.

Mullin got his second two minutes later, when Long fumbled Tozer’s long throw and Wrexham’s striker manged to hook a low overhead kick in from close-range.

Bromley pulled one back on 62 minutes, however – substitute Louis Dennis crossing low from the left for Cheek to steer the ball in from close-range.

Omar Sowunmi made a dangerous run into the Wrexham box ten minutes later, but Jordan Davies raced back and slid in to block.

Davies was forced off shortly afterwards, to be replaced by Young, and Mullin was substituted for Sam Dalby for Wrexham.

Corey Whitely could have levelled for Wrexham on 88 minutes, however – finding space on the right of the area but shooting high into the side netting.

With seven minutes added on, Bromley bombarded the Wrexham area with several high balls but the Red Dragons resisted to register a big three points on the road.

Line-ups:

Bromley: (5-3-2): Long, Fisher (Forster 82), Sowunmi, Reynolds, Elerewe, Topalloj, Stirk, Whitely, Arthurs (Vennings 87), Cheek, Kendall (Dennis 58)

Subs: Bingham, Krauhaus

Wrexham: (3-5-2): Lainton (Howard 46), O’Connell, Tozer, Tunnicliffe, Barnett, Cannon, J.Jones, Davies (Young 79), Mullin (Dalby 85), Palmer

Subs: McFadzean, Cleworth

Bookings

Bromley: none

Wrexham: Mendy (90+1, foul);


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