Wrexham beat Notts County in National League promotion ...

Wrexham have moved a step closer to automatic promotion from the National League after a thrilling 3-2 win over title rivals Notts County that saw Ben Foster save an injury-time penalty.

Almost 10,000 — including co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney — packed the Racecourse Ground as two sides who started the day locked on 100 points at the top of the table met in a crucial fixture in the race to reach the English Football League.

Phil Parkinson’s side had trailed to John Bostock’s goal in first-half injury time, but top scorer Paul Mullin equalised five minutes after the restart.

Jacob Mendy struck in the 69th minute to put Wrexham in front, and though Kyle Cameron headed the visitors level six minutes later, a breathless encounter took another twist when Elliott Lee tapped home in the 79th minute.

⚽️ 45'+4 – Wrexham 0-1 ???????????????????? ????????????????????????⚽️ 48' – ???????????????????????????? 1-1 Notts County⚽️ 70' – ???????????????????????????? 2-1 Notts County⚽️ 75' – Wrexham 2-2 ???????????????????? ????????????????????????⚽️ 78' – ???????????????????????????? 3-2 Notts County

GAME OF THE CENTURY ????????#TheVanarama | #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/PinFvPhdNv

— Vanarama (@Vanarama) April 10, 2023

Notts County looked set to nick a vital point when Eoghan O’Connell was penalised for handball, but Foster made a vital save from Cedwyn Scott in a dramatic finale.

The result means Wrexham, bidding to reach the EFL for the first time since 2007-08, are three points clear of their closest rivals at the top with a game in hand as the season nears its conclusion.

Wrexham — who have just four games remaining — next travel to Barnet on Saturday, while Notts County host Woking on the same day.

Wrexham’s remaining fixtures

• April 15: Barnet (A)
• April 18: Yeovil (H)
• April 22: Boreham Wood (H)
• April 29: Torquay United (A)

Notts County’s remaining fixtures

• April 15: Woking (H)
• April 22: Maidstone United (A)
• April 29: York City (H)

The eventual champions of the National League will gain automatic promotion to League Two — the fourth tier of English football behind the Premier League, Championship and League One.

Teams ranked from second to seventh position in the table will qualify for the play-offs, a knockout competition where the eventual winner will join the champions in being promoted.

Firstly, the seventh-placed team will play the fourth-placed side and the fifth-placed side will take on the sixth-place side.

As the National League playoffs are all knockout games, if two teams are level after 90 minutes of play, the game will proceed to extra time.

If the two teams still cannot be separated, a penalty shootout will decide the winner.

The two teams that finish second and third in the table will not participate in the first round (the quarter-finals) of play-off fixtures and automatically qualify for the next round (the semi-finals).

The winners of the quarter-finals will progress to the next round where they will take on the second and third-placed teams for a chance to qualify for the playoff final.

The National League play-off final will be held at Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2020 on May 13.

The winner of the play-off final will also gain promotion to League Two.

GO DEEPER

National League promotion explained: Wrexham clear of Notts County

(Photo: Getty Images)