PHIL PARKINSON described Saturday’s last-gasp victory against Aldershot Town as “a big moment in our season”.

The Reds led 3-2 at the break, with leading scorer Paul Mullin claiming a hat-trick, but the Shots equalised one minute from time.

However, substitute Sam Dalby headed home Luke Young’s corner in the sixth minute of injury time to secure a sixth successive National League away win.

Second placed Wrexham remain five points behind Notts County, who triumphed 4-1 against Yeovil, with two games in hand and Parkinson knew it was a big victory at The Recreation Ground to prevent his side from losing more ground on the leaders after drawing 2-2 with Woking in the previous outing.

“Sam time and time again has shown for us, not just from the bench but when he has started, what a threat he is,” said Parkinson.

“His timing and those headers is outstanding and it is a big moment in our season.

“After dropping points on Tuesday, this was an important day for us.

“Many aspects of the performance were very good but obviously the most important thing is the result.”

Notts County were seven points ahead of Wrexham when Dalby scored at the death.

It was a significant goal but Parkinson added: “The Notts County result would never affect anything we do because we always go for the win anyway.”

Dalby came on for Mullin with five minutes remaining, providing more height in the Wrexham penalty area to help see the game out.

But the striker came up with the goods at the other end, notching his fifth goal of the season to secure three points after the Shots levelled.

“What Dalbs gives us when you are winning a game like that is an extra header of the ball when you are defending set-plays,” said Parkinson.

“We knew they would load the box to try and get back in it.

“But we didn’t expect to have to need him to go and nick one at the other end but he has done it.”

Mullin’s brace put Wrexham 2-0 up and although the Shots reduced the deficit, the striker restored the two-goal advantage with a cheeky back-heel which went into the net off defender Corey Jordan.

The Shots scored again before the break but Parkinson was pleased with the first-half performance.

“I thought we controlled the game with the ball in the first half as well as we have done for a while,” he added.

“We spoke after Tuesday about the scrappiness of the game and why we didn’t have control, and the lads put that into practice really well.

“We dominated but we conceded goals which from our own point of view we can do better, and we know that.

“In the second half, we had enough chances to take the game out of sight.

“When you don’t take them, you are always vulnerable; one cross comes in and unfortunately it hits Jordan Tunnicliffe and goes in the back of the net.

“All you can do in that particular moment is go and try and win it, and the lads have done that brilliantly.”