Wrexham beat Notts County 3-2 and take over as leaders

Phil Parkinson's side prevailed in the top of the table clash at The Racecourse as County missed a penalty with practically the last kick of the contest and the Reds are in pole position to secure automatic promotion to the Football League.

Victory enabled Wrexham to take over as leaders and the Reds hold a three point advantage over the Magpies with a game in hand.

Wrexham have four matches left in the race for the title and their fate is in their own hands going down the final straight.

This was a huge result and the perfect response to Friday's hugely disappointing 3-1 defeat at Halifax Town which ended the 28-game unbeaten league run.

There is still work to be done to ensure Wrexham finish top but they are in a superb position and just need to make sure they take care of their own business in the remaining matches.

Parkinson made two changes from the side that started the defeat against Halifax at The Shay three days earlier.

Tom O'Connor came into the defence in place of Jordan Tunnicliffe who had a back spasm in training ahead of the showdown and Ollie Palmer was preferred to Sam Dalby in attack.

It was a frantic opening to the contest and although neither side created any chances in the opening stages, Wrexham had a penalty appeal turned down when Paul Mullin appeared to have been taken down by a defender in the area.

Wrexham, looking to put pressure on County's defence, felt goalkeeper Sam Slocombe handed the ball outside the area under pressure from Mullin who raced onto Ben Tozer's long ball but it wasn't given.

Both teams kept probing with County playing a very high backline and Mullin had another shout for a penalty waved away when he went down under the challenge of Slocombe.

The first real sight of goal fell to County in the 34th minute when Kyle Cameron's shot was turned around the post by goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Mullin cleared the bar with a free-kick at the other end but County took the lead in first half stoppage time.

It was debatable whether James Jones fouled Ruben Rodrigues but John Bostock stepped up and scored with a superb 20-yard free-kick that found the top corner and gave Foster no chance.

That was a real hammer blow but Wrexham made the perfect response, equalising four minutes into the second period.

Ryan Barnett played the ball up to Jones on the right who picked out Mullin in the area with a superb pass and the striker slotted past Slocombe to register his 44th goal of the season.

Mullin saw another shot saved by Slocombe while Eoghan O'Connell came even closer to putting Wrexham ahead when he struck the bar with a volley from Barnett's cross.

But Wrexham took the lead in the 69th minute.

O'Connell's free-kick was put back across goal by Mullin and Jacob Mendy fired past Slocombe.

County came close to equalising when Cameron's shot was tipped behind by Foster who pulled off another superb save to deny Sam Austin.

But the Magpies made it 2-2 on 75 minutes following poor defending when Cameron scored with a free header from a corner.

However, Wrexham went 3-2 up four minutes later.

O'Connell ended up chasing his own pass upfield and the centre-back played the ball into the area where Mullin laid off to Elliot Lee who fired home.

Wrexham continued to press and a good move ended with Dalby's effort tipped behind by Slocombe.

There was late drama when County were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time and Foster pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Cedwyn Scott's spot-kick to secure a vital victory for the Reds.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Foster; Barnett, O'Connell, Tozer, O'Connor, Mendy; Jones, Cannon (Young 83), Lee; Mullin, Palmer (Dalby 71). Subs: Howard, McFadzean, Cleworth.

Notts County (5-4-1): Slocombe; Nemane (Jones 76), Rawlinson, Bajrami, Cameron, Chicksen; Rodrigues (Scott 76), O'Brien (Austin 68), Palmer, Bostock; Langstaff. Subs: Brooks, Vincent.

Attendance: 9,924 (1,042 from Notts County).