Wrexham secured promotion to the Championship with a brilliant win over Charlton Athletic, with Sam Smith scoring the pick of the goals.
Wrexham’s season has come to an end, with the stay in League One ultimately lasting just one year.
Phil Parkinson is a master at League One level and has shown it once again with Wrexham securing a third straight promotion.
Saturday’s 2-0 win at Lincoln City brought the curtain down on another stunning campaign, but promotion had already been secured.
Wrexham beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 to seal promotion and spark wild scenes of celebration at the STōK Cae Ras once again.
Wrexham remained professional and didn’t mentally hit the beach before facing Lincoln, handing Parkinson yet another victory.
Ryan Reynolds on Sam Smith goal v Charlton Athletic
That evening against Charlton will live long in the memory, just as beating Boreham Wood two years earlier will.
Ollie Rathbone’s powerful drive opened the scoring for Wrexham, sparking hopes that promotion was on the cards.
Just three minutes later, Sam Smith acrobatically volleyed home a sumptuous Matty James pass to make it 2-0 and kickstart the promotion party.
Smith admitted impressing Ryan Reynolds with his goal, flying through the air to strike home on his left foot.
Reynolds has now told the ever-brilliant Fearless In Devotion, as quoted by the Daily Star, that he can’t stop watching Smith’s goal.
Reynolds branded Smith’s goal ‘remarkable’, admitting that he watches the goal ‘over and over and over again’.
“I think I’ve watched Sam Smith’s martial arts/judo kick maybe 50, 60, 70 times,” said Reynolds.
“I’m just sitting there, watching that over and over and over again and enjoying every second of it. It is remarkable,” he added.
Wrexham’s Sam Smith investment pays off
Reynolds vowed to push for another promotion this time a year ago, claiming he would ‘go for broke’ in search of Championship football.
Well, here we are – Wrexham are now preparing for life in the Championship.
It was only fitting that Smith scored twice in that win over Charlton, including his spectacular volley.
Wrexham signed Smith from Reading in January, paying a club-record fee of around £2million for the striker.
Reynolds and Rob McElhenney backed Parkinson with a huge signing, around quadruple Wrexham’s previous transfer record.
Smith had to come up with the goods after that deal and he certainly did, scoring seven times in 19 games to fire Wrexham to promotion.
Reynolds can’t stop watching Smith’s goal, and no doubt believes the striker was money well spent at exactly the right time.