Wrexham got back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, beating Crawley Town 2-1 thanks to Elliot Lee’s late goal.
Wrexham simply had to hit back after a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of Stevenage in midweek.
Phil Parkinson hinted at changes to his lineup against Crawley Town and he certainly delivered.
In-demand Ollie Palmer wasn’t even in the squad, Arthur Okonkwo was surprisingly benched and we saw starts for new signings Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez.
Wrexham started well with Matty James opening the scoring early on, but a stunner from Bradley Ibrahim pulled Crawley level late on.
Wrexham had to get up and go again and somehow found a 95th-minute winner with Elliot Lee pouncing to head home Ryan Longman’s cross.
Crawley Town boss fumes at Wrexham winner
Wrexham fans were going wild behind the goal as Parkinson’s side pulled off yet another late show.
Steven Fletcher has highlighted Wrexham’s late brilliance and Saturday’s win was just another example.
Crawley were obviously heartbroken to concede that late goal, but were also left fuming with referee Paul Howard.
As Lee ran in to attack Longman’s cross, he appeared to drag Crawley’s Jeremy Kelly to the ground.
Kelly was on the deck as Lee arrived unmarked to score the winner, an incident which could very easily have been ruled as a foul.
Crawley boss Rob Elliot was furious and told the Sussex Express that the decision not to award a foul was ‘completely unacceptable’.
Elliot noted is angry that the officials missed the decision and told referee Howard of his unhappiness.
Elliot believes that nobody will care about the decision because ‘it’s just Crawley’ up against a side like Wrexham.
“For it to be missed, Jeremy Kelly gets literally thrown to the floor. We’re not even talking about a decision where it’s 50-50,” said Elliot.
“We’re talking about someone grabbing the back of his shirt because he’s ahead of him, thrown him to the floor and heading the ball in from five yards. It’s just completely unacceptable that that happens in the moment of the game. That takes it out of the lads because they’ve been absolutely tremendous.
“It can’t be missed. I’m really sorry. I spoke to the referee there and I just said that it can’t be missed between a team of four of you in a moment like that. In the middle of the goal someone gets thrown to the floor.
“I’m sure it’ll get bypassed; it’s just Crawley and it’s Wrexham and no-one will care but it does matter. It matters to this club, it matters to the fans, it matters to the employees, it matters to the staff and the players. Other than that, I’m angry and I’m proud as well because I think that’s a proper performance,” he added.
Phil Parkinson beats his former goalkeeper
Wrexham’s trip to Crawley saw Parkinson take on Elliot for the first time.
Elliot stepped up from non-league Gateshead to become Crawley boss in October, replacing Scott Lindsay.
Parkinson and Elliot are no strangers though as they crossed paths more than a decade ago.
Former goalkeeper Elliot played under Parkinson at Charlton Athletic, racking up 85 appearances under the now-Wrexham boss.
That was more games for Elliot than under any other manager as Parkinson handed him a key role at The Valley.
Parkinson and Elliot will have exchanged pleasantries on Saturday but the Wrexham boss will certainly have been delighted to have beaten his former shot-stopper.