Hall-Johnson at the double to fire Dragons’ quest
Wrexham kept their National League play-off hopes well on track with a stunning 3-2 comeback victory at Boreham Wood.
The visitors were 2-0 with just 30 minutes left and trailed 2-1 with two minutes of normal time to go but fought back to take all three points with two last-gasp efforts.
Full-back Reece Hall-Johnson was the hero, he struck to give Dean Keates’ men hope on the hour and popped up with the memorable 89th-minute winner, just seconds after striker Jordan Ponticelli had dragged the Dragons level.
Mid-table hosts Boreham Wood played the final 16 minutes with 10 men after Tom Champion’s dismissal and the visitors made their man advantage count.
The result in Hertfordshire means Wrexham are unbeaten in seven league games and sit fifth in the National League, heading a tight bunch that includes Notts County, Chesterfield, Bromley and FC Halifax, all separated by just two points. The gap to fourth-placed Stockport County above is eight points.
Keates admitted his shock at his side’s passive first half and admitted they were schooled by Boreham Wood, but hailed the response after the break.
“It’s great character, resilience, the lads showed all of that,” Keates said.
“That wasn’t us in the first half, I was taken back by it, because training had been bang at it, but we didn’t start.
“It wasn’t until the stroke of half-time, around when we conceded the second one, that we got a couple of passes together. Other than that we wasn’t at the races.
“I wouldn’t say we got bullied, we got schooled by an experienced team in the first half.
“There was no ranting and raving at half-time, we just had a chat about things, Ruthers (Paul Rutherford) was unlucky (to come off as a half-time sub). But it was time for Daniel Jarvis to come on and change the game and he was outstanding.
“Reece Hall-Johnson had one of those afternoons, he got done twice in one-v-ones, he’s better than what he gave for their first goal.
“But I told him be brave in the second half and play your game and he did, he got two goals and an assists and could’ve had a hat-trick, the keeper made a great save.
“It’s a great comeback, we got three points, our aim, and we go again tomorrow night.”
Kane Smith put the home side ahead inside 20 minutes and it looked a long way back for the Racecourse side as striker Kabongo Tshimanga made it two on the stroke of half-time.
For Wrexham’s prolific right-back Hall-Johnson it was goals number seven and eight of his debut campaign at the club.
Wrexham welcome play-off rivals Notts County in a huge clash at the Racecourse tomorrow evening.
