Wrexham are another step closer to Wembley after beating Port Vale 4-1 in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.
League One action took a back seat on Tuesday night as Wrexham focused on the EFL Trophy.
The transfer window is all done and dusted now with Phil Parkinson no doubt pleased to be concentrating on match action rather than transactions.
Wrexham headed to Port Vale on Tuesday night and endured a nightmare start with Ronan Curtis firing the hosts in front after just 20 seconds.
We saw a brilliant Wrexham response though as Andy Cannon levelled it up before a dominant second half performance.
Teenager Harry Ashfield put Wrexham in front before Elliot Lee and Modou Faal added to the scoreline, handing Wrexham a 4-1 win.
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Phil Parkinson on Harry Ashfield
We saw some sensational wing play from Ryan Longman for two goals whilst Faal’s goal was a major confidence boost for the striker.
The story of the night was undoubtedly Harry Ashfield though.
Ashfield has previously been likened to Andres Iniesta and whilst that may be tongue-in-cheek, there is certainly some excitement around him.
The teenager came into the Wrexham side and partnered Faal in attack as Parkinson handed chances to both talents.
Ashfield not only scored but took his goal superbly, rifling home from Longman’s cutback.
A product of the Wrexham youth ranks, Ashfield celebrated in front of the travelling fans as he fired Wrexham ahead.
This was a dream moment for Ashfield and he has now earned some well-deserved praise from Parkinson.
Speaking on Wrexham’s official YouTube channel, Parkinson suggested that Ashfield’s all-round performance was impressive.
Parkinson felt that Ashfield linked play ‘brilliantly’ and claims that he isn’t surprised by his strong performance given the talent in his locker and how he trains every day.
“He was very good tonight,” said Parkinson.
“His all-round performance was very good, he kind of linked the play brilliantly in the first half and got his moment with the goal.
“I’m really pleased for Harry, he had a great pre-season with us in America and he trains really hard every day.
“That didn’t surprise us tonight, that’s not a performance we didn’t see coming because we know what quality he’s got and the lads are so pleased for him in there because he’s a humble young man, a credit to his family and what a moment for our academy tonight to see one of the young players play so well,” he added.
Max Cleworth must be Ashfield’s inspiration
Being a young player at Wrexham hasn’t always been easy in the Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds era.
Wrexham have invested in a tried-and-tested players to rise through the leagues, snapping up experienced players at every level.
Breaking in as a young, homegrown talent is a challenge but Max Cleworth has conquered it – and Ashfield can too.
Cleworth has been hailed by Parkinson and is now one of the first names on the Wrexham teamsheet having come up through the ranks.
The defender has gone from strength to strength and the way he has taken his chance should be an inspiration to Ashfield.
Ashfield had to take every chance he gets, just as Cleworth did, and he certainly followed suit himself on Tuesday night.
This is great start and whilst Ashfield faces immense competition in the final third, he clearly earned Parkinson’s respect for his display on Tuesday night – and that could lead to more chances down the line.