Wrexham 2 Crawley Town 1: Mullin returns, an important response, Gresford remembered
Thunder and lightning may have filled the north Wales skyline at the final whistle, but this was a far from spectacular way for Wrexham to stay top of League One .
Instead, goals from Elliot Lee and Max Cleworth were enough to grind out a 2-1 win against a Crawley Town side who created enough chances to spend the 220-mile return journey home wondering just how they left the SToK Cae Ras empty-handed.
The Athletic casts an eye over an entertaining game, picking out the main talking points.
A big test passed... just
With 215 points won since the start of the 2022-23 season, Wrexham's character and ability to deal with setbacks should be beyond question.
Nevertheless, the manner in which Birmingham City had picked Phil Parkinson's side apart five days earlier made the visit of Crawley a potentially seminal moment in a fledgling campaign.
Win and the early momentum that had carried the Welsh club to the top of the table would be maintained. Lose, however, and the risk ahead of upcoming back-to-back away games to Leyton Orient and Stevenage was that Wrexham might lose their way.
In the end, the hosts just about passed that test to maintain their standing as the country's in-form team, those 215 points from 99 games putting Wrexham above nearest rivals Ipswich Town (197 points from 97 games) and Manchester City (192 from 80 games).
As Parkinson was the first to admit, it was "a tough afternoon" for his team against a lively Crawley, who had not only more efforts on goal (18-15) but more on target (7-3).
That Wrexham still emerged with the points was the perfect lift following that chastening evening at St Andrew's against a Birmingham side who are surely destined to run away with the league, such is the quality at head coach Chris Davies' disposal after spending £25million ($33.3m) on new players.
"When you get beat it can knock you," says Parkinson. "It shouldn't, but it can. When you're not at your best for whatever reason, you have to stand strong as a team and dig deep. I felt we did that."
Beware the goal of the month curse...
Never mind the much-touted manager of the month curse, scoring the best goal of August no longer seems a guarantee of future success either.
Jack Marriott , fresh from picking up the third tier's award on Friday for his stunning opening-day strike against Wycombe Wanderers, was dropped to the bench 24 hours later as Paul Mullin was handed his first league start of the campaign.
The decision felt harsh, not least because Marriott leads the scoring charts with four. An expected goals (xG) of 2.56 also points towards the 30-year-old being in fine form.
Now fully recovered from summer back surgery, Mullin brought plenty of energy to the team, but the one decent chance that came his way when picked out by James McClean during the first half was snatched at.
He left to a standing ovation when replaced on 70 minutes by Marriott, a further indication that Parkinson sees the two competing for the one berth, just as Ollie Palmer , Steven Fletcher and Mo Faal are battling it out to be the 'big forward'.
Marriott's confidence clearly had not been dented by being left out judging by the ambitious 20-yard shot that brought a flying save from Jo Wollacott.
"We went with Mulls, but Jack has been brilliant," says Parkinson. "He knows that. We don't have a 'this is our starting XI' situation going on. I just felt a bit of freshness up the top of the pitch would be important.
"Paul needs the minutes. You have to think of how much training the lads did in pre-season and the games we have had. Jack will be ready when called upon again.
"It is not a case of, 'Mulls, you're ahead of Jack'. Or vice-versa. Those two are such important players for us."
Remembering Gresford
Ninety years have passed since one of the worst disasters in British mining history that will forever be intertwined with the fortunes of Wrexham and it's football club.
But the passage of time has done nothing to dim the sense of loss over the 266 men who perished in an explosion at Gresford Colliery on September 22, 1934 .
That much was clear from the outpouring of emotion at the Racecourse Ground as Wrexham wore a special commemorative version of their black away kit to mark the anniversary, complete with a mining lamp on the front.
The Gresford disaster has strong football links due to how many of those who died were working a double shift or had swapped with others to be free to attend that afternoon's Third Division North match between Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers.
Incredibly, the game still went ahead despite the devastation felt across the community.
The players sporting those commemorative shirts against Crawley, even those who had joined over the past 12 months, knew all about the disaster, Parkinson having taken time to explain the background during Friday's team meeting.
The Wrexham manager then later paid a visit to the nearby Miners' Rescue Centre, where two years ago he officially opened a wall featuring the names, ages and addresses of all 266 victims.
"All the lads were conscious of what a big weekend this is for the area and the club," says Parkinson. "Our aim was to get the win to represent all the families and friends who were affected by that tragedy all those years ago."
To further mark the 90th anniversary, not only was an impeccably observed minute's silence held before kick-off, but the front page of the matchday programme featured 'The Gresford Disaster' ballad.
Who's next?
A trip to the capital to round off September, as Leyton Orient await Parkinson's leaders on Saturday, September 28.
(Top photo: Mullin returned to the starting XI against Crawley; by Alex Pantling/)
