Late Max Cleworth goal delivers huge win for Wrexham as Red Dragons down Colchester United to take advantage of Mansfield implosion in League Two promotion fight

Wrexham came from behind to beat Colchester and move into second in League Two in a remarkably tight promotion race, with rivals Mansfield Town being thumped 4-1 by Crawley Town on the same afternoon.

The first-half saw both teams struggle to create clear-cut openings, but Wrexham were dealt a blow midway through, when Jacob Mendy had to be substituted due to an injury. Colchester took advantage in the second half, opening the scoring in the 54th minute, as John Akinde rifled a half-volley into the bottom corner.

Paul Mullin, though, equalised soon after, nodding a header in from Ryan Barnett's exceptional delivery. And the turnaround was complete in the 85th minute, as Max Cleworth rose highest to head home a long throw from George Evans to make it 2-1. The goal means the club are now four points behind Stockport County at the top, although the leaders have a game in hand.

Mullin just cannot stop scoring. He now has a century of goals for Wrexham, 19 in 34 games in League Two this term, and he was the catalyst for the turnaround here. His header is the kind of chance you would always expect him to score, but that speaks to just how prolific he is.

Mendy was subbed due to an injury and one has to think that he will face a race to be fit for the run-in. Wrexham have just five games of the league season to go, and the left-back - so important to Phil Parkinson's style of play - will hope to emerge from the treatment room soon.

Wrexham play Crawley - who beat Mansfield with ease - on Tuesday in a quick turnaround for their next fixture. They will then face bottom-of-the-league Forest Green Rovers next weekend.