Wrexham miss out in attempt to win promotion via play-offs

However, after securing a play-off spot on five occasions during the decade-and-a-half out of the Football League, the Reds just could not negotiate those end of season knockout games.

Just once in five attempts to secure promotion via the play-offs did Wrexham go all the way to the final.

That was in 2012-13 when Andy Morrell's side were underdogs in the last four after finishing fifth, with opponents Kidderminster Harriers taking runners-up spot after only just missing out on the title.

But the Reds won the first leg 2-1 at The Racecourse, with Dave Artell and Neil Ashton on target, before securing a brilliant 3-1 victory away to Harriers with Brett Ormerod, an own goal and Ashton sending the Reds through to the showpiece 5-2 on aggregate.

Wrexham had already won the FA Trophy that season at Wembley but there was no repeat of that success as the promotion dream ended against Welsh rivals Newport County who triumphed 2-0 thanks to two late goals from Aaron O’Connor and Christian Jolley.

Just one season earlier, Morrell's men missed out on the one automatic promotion spot despite finishing runners-up with what was then a club-record 98 points - five less than champions Fleetwood Town.

But the 2011-12 campaign came to a disappointing end as Wrexham lost 2-0 in the semi-final first leg at Luton Town, who finished fifth, before winning 2-1 at home as late goals from Adrian Cieslewicz and Morrell took them close as it ended 3-2 on aggregate to the Hatters.

The first time Wrexham reached the play-offs in the fifth tier was in 2010-11 after ending up fourth, but a 3-0 first leg defeat at home to third placed Luton gave Dean Saunders' side a mountain to climb.

Andy Mangan reduced the deficit early on in the second leg and with Luton on the ropes, Gareth Taylor missed a penalty but the Hatters hit back to win 2-1 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate.

When the National League play-offs were extended from four to six teams, Wrexham finished fourth in 2018-19 and received a home tie in the eliminator against seventh placed Eastleigh who scored the only goal in extra-time as the club suffered more disappointment.

The final experience of the play-offs came in 2021-22 - Phil Parkinson's first season as manager.

Wrexham took the title race down to the final day before finishing runners-up to Stockport County but they avoided an eliminator tie and were home to Grimsby Town in the one-legged semi-final.

It was a dramatic last four tie with both sides holding the lead at various times and the Mariners, who had ended sixth, triumphed 5-4 after scoring the winner deep into extra-time.

Ex-Wrexham defender Luke Waterfall scored twice for The Mariners that day.

Paul Mullin (2), Ben Tozer and Jordan Davies made a fight of it and Grimsby, who had already won an eliminator tie, went onto win the final against Solihull.

Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac were present when Wrexham bowed out but the response to that defeat hasn’t been bad as four years on, Wrexham were in the Championship where they narrowly missed out on a play-off place this season.