Mullin leads Wrexham rout of Crawley to close in on promotion

Paul Mullin scored twice as Wrexham moved a step closer to a second straight promotion with a 4-1 home rout of Crawley Town on Tuesday.

The result leaves the club, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, second in League Two with just three games of the season remaining. The top three teams gain automatic promotion and Wrexham have a five-point cushion to the fourth-placed team, Mansfield Town.

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It means the Welsh club need just five points from their last three games to earn a place in League One, England's third tier, after coming up from the National League just a year ago.

Their latest win on Tuesday, in front of a crowd of 11,544 at SToK Cae Ras, was effectively secured courtesy of two goals in three first-half minutes.

Ryan Barnett opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a close-range finish at the back post from Elliot Lee's deep delivery to net his first goal for the club.

Just a couple of minutes later, the home side's advantage was doubled as Mullin netted his 101st Wrexham goal. Barnett again had a role in it, freeing Andrew Cannon down the right of the box for a low cross that Mullin tapped in from close range.

It remained 2-0 until the final 15 minutes when Wrexham scored twice more to put the result beyond any doubt.

Cannon got on the scoresheet himself, pouncing on a rebound after Lee's shot could only be parried. Mullin's second and Wrexham's fourth came eight minutes from time as he capitalised on a poor backpass and casually beat the advancing Crawley goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.

Crawley responded with a goal from Klaidi Lolos in stoppage time but it was no more than scant consolation for the visitors.

Wrexham return to action on Saturday at home to Forest Green.