Jay Rodriguez gets Wrexham over the line! Phil Parkinson's side beat play-off contenders Stockport to strengthen automatic promotion hopes despite yawning gap to leaders Birmingham

Wrexham fans flocked to the Racecourse on a rainy Saturday afternoon to witness the Red Dragons take another step towards promotion and Phil Parkinson's men did not disappoint them. However, it was a slow start to the match with both sides choosing to exercise caution in the first quarter. Gradually the hosts began to grow in the game and their perseverance earned them a penalty just before the half-hour mark when the ball struck Ibou Touray's arm inside the box. Jay Rodriguez saw his spot-kick saved by Corey Addai but the striker pounced on the rebound to score his first Wrexham goal.

Stockport came out with renewed vigour in the second half as they kept pressing for the equaliser with more purpose and imagination. Arthur Okonkwo showed brilliant reflexes to tip over Callum Connolly's header from a corner and a few minutes later the keeper was lucky to get a foul after he fluffed his lines and Kyle Wootton bundled the ball into the net. The visitors kept piling on the pressure and Parkinson responded by making a double change as he introduced Ryan Barnett and Steven Fletcher in the 70th minute. When it seemed that Wrexham would be better off with an insurance goal, Brad Hills ensured that the pressure was released as he was sent off 10 minutes from time after seeing a second yellow for a challenge on Oliver Rathbone.

After sealing the three points, Wrexham landed a massive blow on Stockport and Wycombe's automatic promotion hopes as they now have a firmer grip on second place. However, there is still a huge gap between them and Birmingham City, who lead the automatic promotion race by nine points and have two games in hand.

Rodriguez will be relieved man after finally hitting the back of the net since joining Wrexham from Burnley in the winter transfer window. With Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer going through a lean patch, Parkinson will have been delighted to see the 35-year-old finally break his duck.

A moment of madness from Hills saw him sent off and the defender has no one to blame but himself after a cynical foul. Clearly, frustration got the better of him after Rathbone showed him a clean pair of heels.

Wrexham have a week to prepare for their next League One fixture against Exeter City on March 29 and Parkinson will hope to build on their new-found momentum after picking up two wins on the trot.