Wrexham vs Boreham Wood LIVE: Ryan Reynolds watches as Red Dragons seal promotion to EFL
Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood: Paul Mullin inspires Wrexham to promotion in front of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
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Wrexham are back in the English Football League after defeating Boreham Wood 3-1 today as the fairytale continues in north Wales.
The Red Dragons secured their place back in the fourth tier for the first time in 15 years and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, who has labelled English Football League rules allowing only one automatic promotion place from the National League as “insane”, has also promised a “monster” party now that his team have gotten over the line.
Things looked bad for the hosts when Boreham Wood took the lead after just 43 seconds at the Racecourse Ground but from then on Phil Parkinson’s side dominated. Elliot Lee - the hero in the match against title rivals Notts County - popped up on the 15 minute mark to nod home an equaliser.
Half-time came and went with the scores still level but prolific striker Paul Mullin came up with the goods. Two glorious second half strikes gave him a brace, settled the nerves inside the ground and secured the National League title for Wrexham.
Relive a historic day at the Racecourse Ground live with our blog below:
Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney came to buy a club they’d never heard of
The best place to start a Hollywood love story is at the beginning, and in this case with a question: what would movie star Ryan Reynolds and TV star Rob McElhenney want with an ailing football club in North Wales?
Why buy any team, but especially this one, drifting without direction four tiers below the Premier League, fighting for attention in their own town, lost amid a sea of Liverpool and Manchester United shirts on the school playground?
The answer involves boredom and luck, intrigue and inspiration, strategy and a little romance too.
Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought a club they’d never heard of
Why did two famous actors buy a football club in North Wales? Lawrence Ostlere reports on an unlikely love story between a pair of Hollywood stars and the city they’ve embraced
Parkinson on facing Boreham Wood
Phil Parkinson previewed this evening’s match against Boreham Wood which could see his team promoted into the EFL.
“It’s a tough game, and personally I believe every game in this league is tough because everyone can beat each other.” he said, “They upset our momentum last season and they are a tough, well-organised team with a meticulous game plan.
“We’ll have to be at our best, nobody can rake their foot off the gas at all, and everyone has to be fully focussed and prepare properly which I’m sure they will.”
What will it mean to get back into the EFL?
"There’s been 15 years of pain," said Phil Parkinson about Wrexham’s desire to get back into the the football league.
"The club’s had so many tough times and we’ve had supporters who have followed this club home and away through all those tough periods.
"I totally understand what it means to everybody - the supporters are incredibly loyal and passionate. The whole town and area has got behind the club and it would be very special if we could finish the job off."
Wrexham’s Hollywood millions are nothing to sneer at – we should all celebrate their push for promotion
Cedwyn Scott, Notts County’s last hope, redressed the ball on the spot 12 yards out, standing over a chance to salvage promotion dreams that were beginning to fade. The visitors had begun the day top of the table, level on points with their hosts but knowing Wrexham had a game in hand likely to prove crucial as the two clubs vied for the National League title and a single automatic promotion place.
High in the stands Wrexham’s Hollywood owners gnawed at fraying fingernails, hearts thumping on the timpani in the tension, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney unable to watch. Scott stepped up and the pair could finally bear a glance, swivelling with eager eyes as goalkeeper Ben Foster guessed right to save the penalty and Wrexham began to celebrate a 3-2 victory to put the title very much in their hands. A goalless draw at Barnet and then a win over relegated Yeovil has now put the Red Dragons one victory away from promotion to the EFL.
Their first chance to clinch promotion comes on Saturday against Boreham Wood at the Racecourse Ground, before a final day trip to the seaside to take on Torquay.
Ryan Reynolds is right – we should stop sneering at Wrexham’s Hollywood millions
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are nothing like the petrochemical giants and state investment funds at the top of the game, writes Harry Latham-Coyle. For a start, they genuinely care
Paul Rudd drinks and sings in Wrexham pub before crucial promotion match
Another Hollywood face appeared in Wrexham on Saturday as Paul Rudd arrived at the Racecourse Ground to watch the team try to seal promotion back to the Football League.
The club’s owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are hoping they can get the victory over Boreham Wood they need to seal a return League Two after 15 years away, as the fairytale continues in North Wales.
Wrexham eased past Yeovil 3-0 on Tuesday to move to the brink of glory, with manager Phil Parkinson lauding his side’s “patience” and now history awaits. Reynolds has promised a “monster” party if his team get over the line, and there could be some famous faces in attendance.
Paul Rudd drinks and sings in Wrexham pub before crucial promotion match
Paul Rudd has joined Reynolds and McElhenney in North Wales as the Red Dragons try to seal promotion
Wrexham vs Boreham Wood team changes
The only change for Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham is that Jacob Mendy returns to the starting XI with Jordan Davies dropping back down to the bench.
Boreham Wood are unchanged from their 1-0 win over Wealdstone.
Hollywood comes to Wales
Wrexham owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are both actors and stars in Hollywood. They decided to venture into sports owenrship by purchasing Wrexham AFC and are now on the verge of seeing the club promoted into the EFL.
Both men will be in attendance at the Racecourse Ground today and there have also be other celebrity sightings in Wales as Ant-Man himself, Paul Rudd, has been spotted enjoying a pint or two with fans ahead of kick off.
‘Hopefully we’re the plot twist’ says Boreham Wood boss
Luke Garrad, Boreham Wood’s manager, spoke ahead of this evening’s match and said he hoped his team would be able to pick up the three points.
“We work hard tirelessly week in, week out,” said Garrard when previewing the match, “It’s another game, our 44th and we need to make sure we go there fully focused and prepped to go and get three points.
“I’m really looking forward to it, every Hollywood film has a plot twist and hopefully we’re the plot twist come eight o’clock tomorrow evening.”
Wrexham vs Boreham Wood line-ups
Wrexham XI: Foster, Barnett, O’Connell, Tozer, O’Connoer, Mendy, Jones, Cannon, Lee, Mullin, Dalby
Boreham Wood XI: Ashmore, Ilesanmi, Bush, Evans, Agbontohoma, Broadbent, Payne, Sousa, Brunt, Ndlovu, Marsh
Parkinson determined to get Wrexham over the line
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has enjoyed three previous promotions as a coach and knows that the records Wrexham have broken this season will mean nothing unless the team secure the title and promotion.
"There’s a real determination among the group to get over the line," he said. "There’s a good feeling in the camp and so there should be.
"The lads have relished every game this season, particularly the home games in front of 10,000 fans who are passionately behind the team.
"Everybody’s really looking forward to the weekend."
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