Reynolds and McElhenney jubilant as Wrexham beat Notts County

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney celebrated jubilantly in the stands after witnessing Wrexham put themselves on course for promotion to League Two with a thrilling 3-2 win over Notts County on Easter Monday. The Welsh outfit had to fight from a goal down and Ben Foster saved a 97th-minute penalty to clinch a massive victory over their title rivals and move three points clear at the top of the National League.

The Racecourse Ground may only hold a capacity of just over 10,000 spectators but those watching from afar could be forgiven for thinking it was like a Premier League ground, such was the raucous atmosphere.

As expected, co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made the long journey from Los Angeles and earned a warm reception from their fans.

It had already been billed as the “biggest in National League history” by BT Sport commentator Adam Summerton and the scene was set for a memorable battle. They didn’t disappoint, with both sides producing an absorbing clash with the kind of entertainment that Hollywood film directors would struggle to write.

After a breathless opening 20 minutes with flying tackles and end-to-end action, Paul Mullin felt he should have had a penalty when he collided with Kyle Cameron, who had no intent of playing the ball. But the referee decided to wave play on as the 40-goal striker’s appeals for a spot-kick fell on deaf ears.

Both Wrexham and Notts County had scored 106 goals apiece this season, but it appeared their quality and desire to win this all-or-nothing clash cancelled each other out, with chances far and few between in a tightly-contested first half.

But in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, up stepped the former Tottenham youth star John Bostock to produce a moment of magic. Positioned about 25 yards out, the midfielder curled a stunning free-kick into the corner past veteran stopper Ben Foster, who screamed at the players in the wall for failing to jump.

As the pressure of the occasion started to show, the game turned into a more scrappy affair with niggly fouls and yellow cards dished out in abundance. That was until the 70th minute when Mullin this time turned provider, drilling a low cross into the path of Jacob Mendy who finished superbly to send the home fans wild.

Chants of “We are top of the league” bounced around the stadium as the Wrexham fans. But their celebrations were cut short just four minutes later when Notts County got their reward for their impressive response to their setback as Cameron, completely unmarked at the far post, headed home the equaliser to add another twist in the tale.

But there was more drama to come. After a defensive mix-up at the back, Wrexham, put themselves back in front when Elliott Lee slotted home into the bottom corner to restore the narrow lead at 3-2. And in the 96th minute, the referee pointed to the spot for handball inside the Wrexham box. But Cedwyn Scott’s penalty was saved superbly by 40-year-old Foster to clinch all three points.

Wrexham now have a three-point lead and a game in hand over their promotion rivals after taking the points. And they will be more confident now than ever of securing an emotional return to the English Football League after three years in the fifth tier.