Wrexham 3 Sheff Utd 3: Ryan Reynolds heartbroken in FA Cup epic as Blades avoid non-league giant killing in 95th minute
AND THEY say that they don’t make them like this anymore.
Yet Phil Parkinson’s National League heroes still starred in their own Hollywood–made Oscar winner.
One that looked like being a real weepie but turned into blockbuster that had everyone on the edge of their seats right to the last kick.
Paul Mullin thought he had become the hero figure at the end, this season’s FA Cup top scorer grabbing his ninth goal in seven ties with the coolest of finishes.
Yet while he proved why he is Wrexham’s leading man – that’s 55 goals in 70 games for the club – ten–man Sheffield United showed they are true grit.
Deep into time added on John Egan popped up from nowhere to force a sequel at Bramall Lane – and on the basis of this drama tickets for it will fly out the doors.
Paul Heckingbotham, having seen Daniel Jebbison red-carded for a kick on Red Dragons club captain Ben Tozer in the 70th minute, will be as relieved as opposite number Parkinson was disappointed amidst the closing scenes that promise so much more in the sequel.
Wrexham tunes of glory echoed around the Racecourse Ground, just before the first whistle a stirring rendition of the Declan Swans – a song about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
What was mainly lost in the electric atmosphere within the famous old ground was that the Blades are on quite a journey of their own.
Parkinson’s players are rightly proud of the charge that is propelling them back to the Football League under the guidance of A-lister owners.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
Their 3–0 midweek win over Gateshead extended their club record unbeaten run to 22 games.
And as always these days, they were playing in front of a 10,000 sellout.
You couldn’t buy a home shirt for love or money.
Not just before the game.
It’s been that way for most of the season and now there was the chance of Dragons slaying giants.
As McElhenney declared on social media: “Take on a side three leagues and 70 points above us? God, I love this game.”
He can’t have been loving it that much as Oli McBurnie’s early header sailed past goalkeeper Mark Howard.
McElhenney’s partner Reynolds, who had been bouncing around the stadium for hours said not long before the teams appeared, said: “There is something special about this town.
“The fact Wrexham have become a tourist destination for so many folks and they are showing up here.”
The club has indeed becoming a global attraction for the pair who oversaw the documentary series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ about their takeover of two years ago.
Except this welcome was really a brutal reminder that the Blades did, indeed, start the clash 70 places above their ambitious hosts.
They are 12 points above third–placed Middlesbrough, they haven’t lost since the restart following the World Cup, and have won seven out of eight games.
And as they proved, they are sharp.
McBurnie saw the opportunity as the Wrexham defence, maybe still a little overwhelmed by the noise and the atmosphere – the whole big deal of it all – stood still.
He didn’t, spinning away from his marker, with nothing Howard could do to stop him.
Things only went from bad to worse for Parkinson’s side.
While United celebrated Jordan Tunnicliffe was lying within a collapsed advertising hoarding, having slumped onto it with a hamstring injury.
He had to be replaced by Max Cleworth and by the 10th minute centre back Aaron Hayden was giving away to James Jones after damaging a calf muscle.
There had been so much Sky Blue thinking around the club after the wild ride that was a 4–3 third round win over Coventry City.
But this was the most miserable of starts and had Jaden Boggel and Jebbison made more of opportunities Wrexham’s incredible journey would have hit the buffers.
And they might have crumbled.
After that nightmare start in the club’s first appearance in the fourth round since 2000 plenty would have understood had they done so.
But what is happening at the Racecourse is more than a celluloid fantasy and Parkinson’s men started making themselves heroes.
They were helped in their comeback quest by goalkeeper Adam Davies, one of five United changes, who dropped the ball and caused 49th minute panic amongst his defenders.
As they were still trying to calm down sixty second later as Wrexham breathed fire and sub Jones stabbed home from close range.
The sheer intensity of what came next bent the Blades completely out of shape and Tom O’Connor was perfectly placed to latch onto a desperate clearance and smash home.
And when Mullin hit the net four minutes from time – the second–placed Championship side still reeling from Jebberson’s dismissal – it seemed like the perfect finale.
But central defender Egan had the last word.
In Episode One, at least.
