Wrexham top dogs after emphatic victory over rivals

WREXHAM boosted their National League title hopes with an emphatic victory over Stockport County which saw them replace the Hatters as leaders.

Ollie Palmer’s brace and Paul Mullin’s strike secured a win which saw the Dragons go top on goal difference.

County have a game in hand and four points from home games against Torquay on Wednesday and Halifax Town next Sunday would see them win the title.

Wrexham visit Dagenham & Redbridge in their final league fixture. Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham have clawed back an 11-point gap which had separated them and the league leaders at the start of April thanks to a 15-game unbeaten run alongside three defeats for County.

But defeat at Woking and a draw at Boreham Wood for Parkinson’s men meant County went into Sunday’s game three points ahead.

The two teams made a committed start in what was a frantic and physical opening 15 minutes at a packed and noisy Racecourse Stadium, with both sides well aware of what was at stake.

Miles Hippolyte had the first chance for the visitors and

Christian Dibble had to stretch to stop his low shot, gathering at the second attempt.

Dibble also did well to get his fingertips on the ball to divert an advancing Scott Quigley away from goal and the Stockport threat passed.

Wrexham weathered the storm and Mullin’s overhead kick, from a Ben Tozer throw, was tipped over by Ben Hinchliffe before Cleworth headed wide from the resultant corner.

Paddy Madden fired wide of the post but it was Wrexham who broke the deadlock.

Tozer’s long throw again caused problems for the County defence and Palmer headed past Hinchliffe for his 15th league goal since joining Wrexham from AFC Wimbledon for a record fee in January.

Buoyed by that goal, Wrexham pushed forward and Mullin’s shot from a tight angle was parried by Hinchliffe. But Wrexham’s top scorer was not to be denied as he coolly beat the County keeper after an excellent through ball from Jordan Davies.