NATIONAL LEAGUE

WREXHAM 2

FOREST GREEN 2

MASTERS of the late show, Forest Green’s Brett Williams stepped off the bench to slam home a 94th-minute point at Wrexham.

For the third successive game, Ady Pennock’s side struck deep into stoppage-time, but despite this last-gasp point-saver, the table-toppers fell off their National League perch after title-protagonists Cheltenham pinched a win at Barrow.

Rovers looked dead-and-buried at 2-1 with Sam Wedgbury sent off in stoppage time, but once again they bounced back with Williams clawing his side back from the jaws of defeat.

In truth, Rovers should have been comfortable winners in a one-sided first half that saw Darren Carter’s sixth goal of the season hand Pennock’s side a 1-0 half-time lead, but Wrexham had other ideas and came from behind to score twice in a seven-minute frenzy as Rovers imploded.

Earlier, the famous old Racecourse Ground survived a 1.30pm wet weather pitch-inspection and manager Pennock, crowned manager of the month for January, opted to make three changes from the last-gasp victory over Macclesfield.

Kurtis Guthrie and Williams dropped to the bench with captain Jon Parkin and Carter returning to the starting line-up.

Key-defender Aarran Racine came back after a three-game suspension with Kieffer Moore making way.

Meanwhile, new father David Pipe took his place on the bench ahead of Ben Jefford.

Wrexham included former Forest Green captain Lee Fowler and James Jennings' younger brother Connor.

Rovers started on the front-foot and almost nosed ahead inside three minutes. Elliott Frear’s corner was nodded towards goal for the unmarked James Jennings to clip the crossbar.

Wrexham responded in perfect fashion with an uncertain Steve Arnold punch causing panic and hope for the play-off hopefuls, who were starting to find their feet.

The match was certainly being played at a high tempo and Rovers were beginning to up the ante. Carter was far from pleased when he got his feet in a tangle as he miscued his shot inside the box after a free-flowing move involving Jennings and Frear.

Rovers continued to knock on the Wrexham door and only a last-ditch Jamal Fyfield block prevented Parkin getting on the end of a delicious Frear cross.

And from the corner Rovers took a 21st-minute lead. Keanu Marsh-Brown’s set-play was nodded across the box by Jennings for Carter to get the vital touch in a crowded goalmouth.

The partisan home crowd were getting twitchy, but Kayden Jackson tried hard to please when he fizzed a strike into Arnold, after finding space inside the box.

However, Rovers remained in control and Parkin stuck out a leg to stab wide from a Marsh-Brown set-play.

Parkin fired wide again with the half drawing to a close as the impressive Marsh-Brown conjured the opportunity.

On the cusp of the break the dominant Charlie Clough cleared a ball ahead of Arnold as Wrexham left the pitch to a chorus of boos.

Wrexham were a different animal after the break and rattled Rovers with Racine and Marsh-Brown picking up early bookings.

The Racecourse was rocking with two goals in seven breathless minutes.

Mark Carrington’s 62nd minute corner saw Blaine Hudson get ahead of Arnold’s fisted attempt to bundle the ball into the net. Seven minutes later and the roof was raised as defender Hudson grabbed his second from a Newton cross after an outstanding parry from Arnold.

Pennock had seen enough and brought on Moore and Guthrie for Parkin and Marsh-Brown respectively.

Rovers were second-best and Wedgbury incurred his 10th booking of the season for a foul on Adriano Moke.

It was all Wrexham and Hudson fluffed his chance of a hat-trick when he planted a header straight at Arnold.

Wedgbury was sent-off in stoppage time for a foul on Connor Jennings and it seemed game over.

However, Rovers’ never-say-die attitude saw sub Williams grab a stoppage-time point-saver after excellent work from James Jennings, Dale Bennett and Guthrie.

Forest Green: (4-2-3-1) S Arnold; D Bennett, C Clough, A Racine, J Jennings; R Sinclair, S Wedgbury; K Marsh-Brown (K Guthrie, 72), D Carter (B Williams, 81), E Frear; J Parkin (K Moore, 70).

Subs not used: M Kelly, D Pipe.

Wrexham: (3-4-1-2) R Taylor; M Smith, B Hudson, J Fyfield; J Vidal (A Moke, 46), M Carrington, S Heslop, S Newton; C Jennings; K Jackson, W York (M Beck 60).

Subs not used: L Fowler, J Gray, L Briscoe.

Attendance: 3,891 (Away:89).

Star Man: James Jennings: Faced his brother Connor and shared the spoils.

Next up: FC Halifax (A), Saturday, February 13.