Wrexham remain unbeaten after a vital Mullin equaliser
31.08.2021
Wrexham took a point from fellow National League powerhouses Notts County in front of a packed Racecourse ground for their first home game of the 21/22 season. The result reflects a mixed match, which Wrexham dominated but found themselves trailing at halftime.
The reds arrived with high hopes, buoyed by a flurry of recent miracles: a 2-0 victory at Eastleigh in their last game, an impressive 5,454 spectators in the ground for the first time this season, rumours of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s presence at the ground, and another star signing in the form of Ben Tozier from League 1’s Cheltenham Town. No evidence of the A-Listers appeared at the Racecourse, and despite Ben Tozier’s experience at centre-back, Wrexham conceded first in the 44th minute.
The hosts hoarded the majority of first-half chances, thanks to Paul Mullin’s marksmanship, Tozier’s wickedly long throw-ins, and another goal ruled off-side due to Jake Hyde. However, Kyle Wootton capitalised on County’s only real chance of the game, heading the ball beyond keeper Rob Lainton ten minutes before the break.
Phil Parkinson brought Ben Tozier into the squad to steady the ship and balance Wrexham’s formidable attack. The club paid a reported £200,000 for the privilege, a National League fortune. Wrexham conceded their third goal in three games against Notts County, revealing that it may take some time for the raft of new signings to bed into the side.
However, just five minutes after halftime, Paul Mullin’s header kept hopes for a triumphant Wrexham season alive and well. Scoring his second goal of the season, Mullin emphasised his ruthlessness in the box while proving the gaffer’s ability to rally the troops with a halftime pep talk.
Wrexham’s second draw in three games is sure to leave their ravenous ambitions unsatisfied. However, it does extend their unbeaten streak and cement their place in the top half of the National League table. The club’s next clash, against recent League 2 relegatees Southend United, will test their mettle as Wrexham eye-up the EFL.
While the clash presents another real challenge, the fact that Wrexham’s top goalscorer this season, Paul Mullin, assisted a goal against Southend for his former club Cambridge United as recently as January this year may give the Reds an edge going forward.
