Wrexham AFC will be playing their football in Sky Bet League One next season, as they scored six goals to claim a dominant victory over Forest Green Rovers that secured back-to-back promotions for the Red Dragons.
Elliot Lee broke the deadlock for Wrexham after just 17 minutes, before Paul Mullin doubled the advantage six minutes later against Rovers.
Eoghan O’Connell’s strike that took a deflection from Ryan Inniss was followed up by Mullin’s second just a minute from the interval, as Wrexham led by four at the break.
Ryan Barnett made it 5-0 after 63 minutes, before substitute Jack Marriott scored his first goal for the Club to secure promotion in style.
Phil Parkinson named an unchanged side from Wrexham’s 4-1 win over Crawley Town on Tuesday night, a victory which boosted the Red Dragons’ promotion chances.
Forest Green Rovers arrived in LL11 fighting for their Sky Bet League Two table, with Steve Cotterill’s side sat rock bottom of the league table with just three matches to escape.
Paul Mullin got the game underway, and Wrexham started strongly at the STōK Cae Ras, as the visitors looked to frustrate Wrexham with every opportunity that presented itself.
Despite that, the Red Dragons’ quality quickly shone through, as Parkinson’s side broke the deadlock after just 17 minutes on a sunny day in North Wales.
A swift attack from the hosts saw Mullin’s shot blocked on the line, as Elliot Lee eventually came out on top of a goalmouth scramble to score a vital goal in the promotion race – breaking the deadlock in the process.
Just six minutes later, Lee was yet again heavily involved in Wrexham’s attacking exploits, as he provided a key pass to unleash James McClean down the left-flank.
The former Republic of Ireland international then lofted a ball towards the back post with Mullin in acres of space before the forward headed home for his 21st league goal of the season.
Lee into McClean, cross into Mullin heads home at the back post in loads of space, after 23 minutes.
The hosts continued in their battle to extend their advantage at the STōK Cae Ras, and Wrexham’s persistence paid off with 34 minutes gone as an own goal from Ryan Inniss did just that.
A strike from Eoghan O’Connell was deflected into the path of Max Cleworth, who seemed to know little about it as he celebrated, as a final touch came from Inniss because of Cleworth’s pressure at the back-post.
Lee almost doubled his account just before half time, as Vicente Reyes managed to stumble across and parry the effort on the line out for a corner.
Tom O’Connor stepped up to take the corner, putting his delivery into a dangerous area before it was headed into the path of Mullin at the back-post.
The striker made no mistake, stepping up at a crucial moment to give Wrexham total control of the match in the 44th minute as his deflected strike nestled into the net to a massive roar from all within the ground.
After the restart, results continued to go in favour of Wrexham, as the anticipation began to grow within the STōK Cae Ras, with Sky Bet League One almost within touching distance.
Ryan Barnett made it a five-star performance with a goal which almost certainly will receive rave reviews, scoring his second goal for the Club in style.
McClean was yet again at the heart of the move, as he provided the pivotal cross into Barnett at the back post, who unleashed a sublime volley into the far corner with finesse.
Lee almost made it six with eleven minutes remaining as he drove onto the edge of the box and unleashed a right-footed effort that glided just wide of the post.
McClean found a way for Wrexham to score the sixth, as it was his cut-back that found substitute Jack Marriott, who fired home after 84 minutes to record his first goal for the Club.
That was the final of the goals in a dominant display, setting up jubilant celebrations once the Club’s status in Sky Bet League One for next season was confirmed.
Wrexham AFC: Okonkwo, Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor, Barnett (Bolton 82’), Cannon (J. Davies 72’), Evans, Lee, McClean, Mullin (C) (Marriott 82’), Palmer (Fletcher 72’).
Subs not used: Howard, Tozer, McFadzean.
Forest Green: Reyes, Inniss, McCann, Doidge, Garrick (McAllister 80'), Moore-Taylor (C), Robson (Thompson 80'), Dabo (Bernard 80'), Jones (Bunker 83’), Keogh, Osadebe (Maddox 80').
Subs not used: Searle, Omotoye.
Match Attendance: 11,825 (375)
