League Two
Forest Green Rovers 1
Wrexham 1
Forest Green’s bravehearts were denied a third win in four games as Paul Mullin’s stoppage-time penalty forced Steve Cotterill’s side to share the spoils.
Billed as Mission Impossible, Forest Green delivered a performance which Wrexham razzamatazz Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McEIhenney would ordinarily enjoy. However, the script was ripped up when Mullin’s late show stole a point for the Dragons after Manny Osadebe’s first half opener.
Rovers are cutting the gap and are now two points from clawing themselves out of the bottom two – chasing the coat-tails of Grimsby, who they travel to on Saturday for the proverbial six-pointer.
Rovers got off to a breathtaking start – the impressive Manny Osadebe exchanged passes with Christain Doidge to gallop on and plant a sumptuous strike beyond the outstretched Arthur Okonkwo on 3 minutes.
Only a reflex glove from Okonkwo denied Rovers a second as the Wrexham keeper pawed away a stinging Doidge header from Craig McAllister’s impish run and cross after Eoghan O’Connell had gifted possession.
Roared on by the vociferous Cotterill – a prowling tiger in the technical area, Rovers were making a mockery of their lowly league status.
Wrexham, looking for back-to-back promotions, offered little – their first meaningful effort took 25 minutes to arrive – Elliot Lee firing high, wide and not very handsome over the grateful South Stand.
Wrexham gained a foothold and should have netted parity on 35 minutes – Ryan Barnett fluffing his lines when unmarked in Rovers’ box.
After the break, the previously under-employed Vicente Reyes showed great agility to claw away Richard Keogh’s touch that skimmed off his head and en-route to the bottom corner of the net before the Norwich loanee got a vital glove on the ball.
The impish Charlie McCann was a whisker from a second for Rovers – his stab flashing inches wide.
Wrexham were knocking on the door – bossing possession as the game entered the dying embers.
Rovers were stung deep into six minutes of stoppage-time – Jamie Robson dived in on Paul Mullin, who made no mistake from the penalty spot to grab a late point for Phil Parkinson’s side.
Forest Green: Reyes; Bunker, Moore-Taylor, Keogh, Robson; McCann, Gorrin (Bernard 60), Osadebe; McAllister (Omotoye 71), Doidge
Subs not used: Searle, Lavinner, Johnson, Robertson, Holland
Wrexham: Okonkwo; Hayden, Young, Mullin, O’Connell, Cannon, McClean, Fletcher, Barnett, Cleworth, Lee
Subs: Howard, Tozer, Davies, Palmer, Marriott, Bolton, Mendy
Referee: Mr W Finnie
Star Man: Manny Osadebe
Attendance: 4,412
Next up: Rovers travel to Grimsby Town on Saturday.
