Wrexham will return to League Two for the first time since 2008 after the Welsh club sealed their promotion back to the Football League with a famous 3-1 victory over Boreham Wood.
Heading into their most important league match for 15 years knowing that only a win would seal their return to the fourth tier, the hosts made a terrible start as Lee Ndlovu lobbed the onrushing Ben Foster to put the visitors ahead in the opening minute.
But in front of a packed-out capacity crowd of over 10,000 fans which also included celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, as well as Marvel actor Paul Rudd, Wrexham responded shortly after.
After great play down the right, Ryan Barnett delivered a cross deep to the back post where Elliot Lee headed home to send the majority of The Racecourse Ground into raptures. As a result, the two teams headed into the break level.
That didn’t last long into the second half though as Wrexham took the lead for the first time in the match in the 52nd minute. After picking up the ball on the left wing, Paul Mullin charged into the box before placing a lovely, curled effort into the top corner past the helpless Nathan Ashmore.
That was his 37th National League goal of the season and without a doubt the most important strike of his outstanding campaign.
Despite the best efforts of the play-off chasing away side, Mullin then netted again as the Red Dragons raced over the line to claim the priceless three points that they needed for promotion at the expense of Notts County, who had done their job by winning away to Maidstone United.
Wrexham's return to League Two ends a 15-year absence at that level following their relegation to the National League after finishing bottom of the fourth tier during the 2007/2008 season.
It also acts as their Hollywood co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney’s biggest success story to date as they carry on cementing their place in Wrexham folklore.
The Sporting News followed Wrexham vs Boreham Wood live and providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as they happen.
MORE: What is League Two? Biggest clubs, promotion places for EFL 2 as Wrexham close in
Wrexham vs Boreham Wood full time score
| 1st Half | 2nd Half | FT score | |
| Wrexham | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Boreham Wood | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Goals:
BHW - Ndlovu (1 min)
WRX - Lee (16 mins)
WRX - Mullin (52 mins)
WRX - Mullin (71 mins)
Lineups:
Wrexham (3-5-2, right to left): Foster (GK) — Barnett, O'Connell, Tozer — O'Connor, Cannon, Lee, Jones, Mandy — Mullen, Dalby
Wrexham subs: Howard, Cleworth, Forde, Davies, Palmer.
Boreham Wood (3-5-2, right to left): Ashmore (GK) — Ilesanmi, Evans, Agbontohoma — Sousa, Broadbent, Brunt, Payne, Bush — Ndlovu, Marsh
Boreham Wood subs: Kelly-Evans, Rees, Fyfield, Newton, Lewis.
Wrexham vs Boreham Wood live updates, highlights from National League match
Fulltime: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
The final whistle blows and Wrexham are promoted to League Two!!!
It ends a 15-year hiatus out of the Football League for the Welsh side, whose fans will be partying into the early hours of the morning. Elsewhere, it's commiserations for Notts County who have truly played their part in a thrilling National League title race this season.
90 mins: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
There won't be a hat trick for Mullin as he's replaced by Palmer. What a signing he's turned out to be for this new-look Wrexham side!
87 mins: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
Another chance for the hosts to further extend their lead as a shot is headed wide from a long Tozer throw.
83 mins: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
Not to jinx it for the Wrexham fans out there but this match looks finished with less than ten minutes to go. Boreham Wood are completely out of ideas as they continue to struggle to generate chances.
80 mins: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
Mullin is desperate to complete his hat trick tonight to really finish off his fantastic campaign in style. He now has a staggering 38 National League goals this season, more than relegated Yeovil Town have managed combined for reference!
77 mins: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
Another switch for Boreham Wood as Rees joins the action at the expense of Payne.
Evans heads wide for the visitors soon after.
75 mins: Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood
It's party time now for the Wrexham fans who have waited an awful long time for this day to come. Boreham Wood are trying their hardest to create something but the hosts' defence remains defiant.
71 mins: GOAL - Wrexham 3-1 Boreham Wood (Paul Mullin)
Is that promotion sealed for Wrexham?! Mullin collects the ball just inside his own half, stands up his defender and then slams the ball into the far corner to put the hosts 3-1 to the good.
It's a long way back for Boreham Wood now!
69 mins: Wrexham 2-1 Boreham Wood
So the visitors make their first change and it's one in attack as Lewis replaces Marsh. The former Crawley striker have five goals this season with four coming on the road..
65 mins: Wrexham 2-1 Boreham Wood
The visitors look set to make a few substitutions here as they begin to work their way back into this game. Remember, they need a point here to claim a play off place this season.
60 mins: Wrexham 2-1 Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood can't get near the ball at the moment. The visitors are really struggling after that Mullin goal and need to regroup quickly.
57 mins: Wrexham 2-1 Boreham Wood
The home fans are starting to believe now as the atmosphere turns up another notch. It's all Wrexham now on the pitch as well as they look to get a third goal on the scoreboard.
52 mins: GOAL - Wrexham 2-1 Boreham Wood (Paul Mullin)
It's a special goal from a special player. Mullin works tirelessly down the left to win back possession, he then charges into the penalty area before unleashing a perfect curved effort into the far top corner past the helpless Ashmore.
Incredible scenes at the Racecourse Ground!
51 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
The visitors have the chance to deliver a ball into the box following a long throw but Foster easily collects Brunt's overhit cross.
48 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
It's been a sloppy start to this second-half for Boreham Wood who have given away a few early free kicks and surrendered possession a couple of times too easily.
46 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
The second half resumes here on the Welsh-English border. No changes made by either manager at the break.
Halftime: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
It's all level at the break as Boreham Wood continue to frustrate Wrexham in their search for promotion today.
Ndlovu gave the visitors a shock early lead as he lobbed Foster in the first minute of the match but the Welsh side did well to respond shortly after through Lee's header.
A draw seems a fair result at the break with both sides trading decent chances since the scores went level in the 16th minute.
43 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
This game is heading towards the break all-level. Wrexham continue to push but Boreham Wood look dangerous on the break.
38 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
Big shouts from the crowd for a Wrexham penalty as a corner delivery looks to hit Evans on the arm but the referee waves away the appeals.
36 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
Wrexham break on the counterattack but Mullin can only strike straight at the goalkeeper. Boreham Wood respond with an attack of their own as Foster claims from a cross.
This match is becoming stretched now as both sides look to take a late first half lead.
33 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
It's a big chance for Boreham Wood. A great cross is floated in from the right to the back post but Ilesanmi heads just wide as Foster fails to come and claim the ball. A let off for the league leaders!
31 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
Payne is the first name in the book as the visiting midfielder stops Wrexham from taking a quick free kick. The subsequent delivery is then cleared before Mullin strikes just wide with an acrobatic effort.
29 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
It's time for the away side to turn the heat up as they attack down the right. Bush launches two long throw-ins into the Wrexham box but twice Tozer is able to get his head to the ball and clear.
Brunt then fires just over from range for Boreham Wood. That's a warning shot for Parkinson's side.
24 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
Boreham Wood are finding it hard to keep hold of the ball here. Their defence is doing well enough for now but Marsh and Ndlovu are really struggling to make the ball stick upfront for the away side. It needs to improve quickly if they want to find a positive result this afternoon.
20 mins: Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood
Tozer launches a throw in into the Boreham Wood box but the visitors again defend the situation well. Wrexham continue to pressurise their opposition with some neat play in and around the penalty area.
16 mins: GOAL - Wrexham 1-1 Boreham Wood (Elliot Lee)
There's the equaliser for Wrexham!!! Barnett does well to beat his man down the right, he hangs a cross up to the back post and Lee finds himself all alone in the box to head home.
The Racecourse Ground erupts.
13 mins: Wrexham 0-1 Boreham Wood
Another half chance for Dalby as Mullin heads his fellow striker in the box. He brings the ball down well but his shot is blocked on the edge of the six-yard box and Boreham Wood clear the danger.
11 mins: Wrexham 0-1 Boreham Wood
The visitors respond with some neat possession in midfield before losing the ball down the left flank. To point out, Boreham Wood are unbeaten in their last 43 league matches when taking the lead..
9 mins: Wrexham 0-1 Boreham Wood
Lee delivers a corner for Wrexham from the left but Dalby can only glance wide with his header at the back post. Wrexham continue to pile on the pressure as they look for an equaliser here.
5 mins: Wrexham 0-1 Boreham Wood
Well after that sensational start for the visitors, Wrexham have responded well. The league leaders have thrown a few balls into the box but the Boreham Wood defence have done well to repel the danger so far.
1 min: GOAL - Wrexham 0-1 Boreham Wood (Lee Ndlovu)
Incredible scenes as the visitors take the lead!!! Ndlovu finds himself all alone behind the Wrexham backline and he lobs the onrushing Foster to give Boreham Wood the lead.
2 minutes from kickoff: The players emerge from the tunnel and into a party atmosphere at The Racecourse Ground. Can Wrexham return to the Football League today? Let's find out.
15 minutes from kickoff: So to recap the situation for those of you joining us. After Notts County's 5-2 win over Maidstone United earlier this afternoon, Wrexham have to win to seal promotion today.
If they either draw with or lose to Boreham Wood, the promotion battle will go to the final day of the season next weekend.
30 minutes from kickoff: There's a surprise visit from Hollywood star Paul Rudd today at The Racecourse Ground as Wrexham look to complete their recent rise under Reynolds' and McElhenney's stewardship with promotion.
1 hour from kick off: The teams are out for both sides in this clash. It's somewhat as expected for Wrexham who won 3-0 in midweek vs. lowly Yeovil, though Mendy returns to the starting line-up for the hosts. Davies returns to the bench too which will come as a huge boost.
1 hour 30 minutes from kickoff: Unfortunately for Wrexham fans, Notts County recover to 5-2 against Maidstone Untied and now the Welsh club have to win today to claim promotion. A draw wouldn't be good enough.
1 hour 45 minutes from kickoff: Second-placed Notts County currently lead 3-2 away to Maidstone United but they've conceded two goals in the last couple of minutes. If they end up drawing then even a draw later on for Wrexham would be good enough for promotion!
2 hours from kickoff: With the chance to seal promotion at home to Boreham Wood, expect a quick start from Wrexham who look set to return to the Football League for the first time since 2008.
Wrexham vs Boreham Wood lineups
Following their 3-0 victory over Yeovil Town in midweek, expect Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson to keep the same starting line up if possible here. Mullen will of course lead the frontline, whilst the defensive line of Tozer, O'Connell and Tunnicliffe seems set.
Wrexham projected starting lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Foster (GK) — Tozer, O'Connell, Tunnicliffe — Forde, Cannon, Lee, Jones, Barnett — Mullen, Dalby
Wrexham subs: Howard, McFadzean, O'Connor, Davies, Palmer.
Visiting Boreham Wood look set to run with the same starting line up that grabbed a vital 1-0 victory at home to Wealdstone last time out. With no fresh injury concerns, expect Lewis and Marsh to lead the line again for Luke Garrard's side.
Boreham Wood projected starting lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Ashmore (GK) — Ilesanmi, Fyfield, Agbontohoma — Kelly-Evans, Broadbent, Brunt, Payne, Bush — Lewis, Marsh
Boreham Wood subs: Coxe, Ricketts, Rees, Newton, Ndlovu.
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Wrexham vs Boreham Wood live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch all of the action from this match in some of the major territories:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | — | National League TV |
| Canada | — | National League TV |
| UK | BT Sport 1 | BT Sport app/site |
| Australia | — | National League TV |
| New Zealand | — | National League TV |
| India | — | National League TV |
| Hong Kong | — | National League TV |
| Malaysia | — |
National League TV |
| Singapore | — | National League TV |
UK: This match will be broadcast live in the UK via BT Sports' TV and streaming services.
International: Despite UK broadcasters having exclusive access to the match, National League TV is also offering fans from outside of the UK the chance to watch the action, with matchday packages available for £9.50/$11.80.