PHIL PARKINSON felt the hard work on the training pitch paid off as Wrexham registered a massive win in their quest for a second successive promotion.
The Reds triumphed 2-0 against Mansfield Town in the League Two top of the table showdown at The Racecourse on Good Friday.
Paul Mullin struck either side of the break to secure victory, with the brace taking the prolific striker onto 20 goals for the season and one short of the century milestone since joining Wrexham in the summer of 2021.
Victory keeps Wrexham third in the table and on the same tally as Mansfield who arrived in north Wales as leaders but are now second.
Stockport took over at the summit and are one point ahead of both sides with a game in hand, while fourth placed MK Dons are three adrift of the Reds having played a match more with Barrow and Crewe Alexandra also challenging for a top-three finish.
Mullin’s brace ensured Wrexham, who have six games remaining, strengthened their own position and put a dent in Mansfield’s promotion push.
Parkinson hailed a hard-working performance from all his players who put into practice what they had gone through in training sessions in the run-up to the crucial fixture.
“It was a hard-earned win,” said Parkinson. “A gritty, determined performance.
“I thought the out of possession work was outstanding.
“Obviously we respected Mansfield because of the season they are having but the way the lads worked, starting with the front-two and all the through the team, we restricted a very good Mansfield team to very little.
“There was a real physicality about our performance. We won headers, we were first to the ball all over the pitch.
“Of course the quality at times could have been a little bit better but sometimes conditions dictate to a certain degree.
“That was a really good team performance. The lads are pleased and the staff are pleased because we put a lot of work during the week into that performance on the training pitch and the lads have really implemented it well.”
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Wrexham had a couple of half-chances before they took the lead in the 32nd minute.
Max Cleworth played a superb through-ball to Andy Cannon whose low cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by centre-backs Lewis Brunt and Aden Flint, with the ball reaching Mullin who fired home from eight yards.
“It was difficult at times out there but I thought the first goal was a magnificent move from us,” said Parkinson.
“Max’s pass was as good as you are likely to see and it was a fantastic weight of cross by Andy to Mulls and the calmness of the finish got us ahead.
“It came across quite quick on a greasy surface and I am really pleased with that finish.”
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo made his first save of the game at the start of the second half when he did well to turn substitute James Gale’s shot behind for a corner.
Mansfield thought they’d equalised after Davis Keillor-Dunn slotted into an empty net but the goal was disallowed by referee Lewis Smith who decided the former Wrexham man had kicked the ball out of the Reds’ keeper’s hands when he came to the edge of his box to collect.
Although the Stags had created very little it was a let-off for Wrexham who responded by going 2-0 up in the 67th minute.
Luke Bolton was brought down in the area by Jordan Bowery and Mullin smashed home the resulting penalty, taking his tally for the Reds to 99 goals since his arrival from Cambridge United nearly three years ago.
“Mulls despatched the penalty very well for us and it was a nice cushion,” said Parkinson.
“Luke Bolton, as we said when we brought him in, has got real power and once he is past people he is a very difficult player to catch.
“It was kind of a mishit pass and he has got on the end of it, we got the penalty and the 2-0 cushion was fantastic for us.”
Mullin earned the plaudits for his two-goals but Parkinson felt the captain-for-the-day and strike partner Ollie Palmer deserved just as much credit for the way they defended from the front against a dangerous Mansfield side who have not won against Wrexham in three league and cup meetings this season.
“All-in-all, I thought the team ethic was outstanding,” added the Reds’ boss, whose side continue the promotion push at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.
“The goals were brilliant but Mulls and Ollie did a really good job.
“We worked during the week on blocking the ball into little Louis Reed because he is a good footballer.
“We restricted the service into him, a lot of their attacks start off like that and I was so pleased with that work because that means as much as the goals.”
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