Paul Mullin fires Wrexham to crucial win over promotion rivals Mansfield![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-471b4.svg)
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![Paul Mullin blasts home Wrexham’s second goal from the penalty spot (Jacob King/PA)](https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/36c19aa110ab15ef13cdefe62d5f1971Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzExODE4NTQ4/2.75738082.jpg?rect=0,198,2996,1685&ext=.jpg&operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
Paul Mullin’s brace handed Wrexham a 2-0 win against Mansfield in League Two’s close automatic promotion race.
Mullin gave the Dragons a first-half advantage and grabbed his second from the penalty spot after the break as Phil Parkinson’s side narrowed their gap to the summit to a point and drew level with the second-placed Stags.
Elliot Lee’s early bicycle kick was claimed by Mansfield’s Christy Pym but Andy Cannon’s low cross was slotted home by Mullin to put Wrexham ahead after the half-hour.
Mansfield’s Aaron Lewis nearly equalised but his 37th-minute effort curled just wide.
After half-time, Arthur Okonkwo saved George Maris’s effort as Mansfield sought a leveller.
Davis Keillor-Dunn thought he had equalised after robbing Okonkwo, but referee Lewis Smith disallowed it after the Stags man was adjudged to have unfairly dispossessed the Dragons goalkeeper.
Wrexham won a 67th-minute penalty when Jordan Bowery brought Luke Bolton down and Mullin duly smashed home.
Steven Fletcher nearly added Wrexham’s third but could not meet Lee’s ball as full-time neared.