THERE was more heartbreak for success-starved supporters but Wrexham head into 2023 in a brilliant position to finally deliver the promotion everyone craves.

The Reds were well off the pace following a slow start to a 14th season in non-league but they really turned things around following the turn of the year.

Despite trailing leaders Stockport County by 11 points in March, there was no let-up from Wrexham who took the title race down to the final weekend of the regular campaign.

A 3-0 defeat at Dagenham - just the fourth league defeat since Christmas - proved irrelevant as Stockport got the win they needed to clinch the title with Wrexham settling for runners-up spot.

That guaranteed home advantage in the play-off semi-finals, and avoid an eliminator tie, but Wrexham were unable to make it count as they went down 5-4 following an epic contest against Grimsby Town.

There had already been the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bromley in the FA Trophy final at Wembley the previous weekend, meaning Wrexham lost the final three matches of a 2021-22 campaign that promised so much.

Finishing with 88 points from 44 matches was no mean feat - Stockport had six more - but Wrexham ultimately fell short in the bid to reclaim a place back in the Football League for the first time since 2008.

But rather than dwell on the disappointment, manager Phil Parkinson strengthened his squad and the Reds go into the new year in an even better position than they were 12 months ago.

Wrexham hit the ground running when the 2022-23 season kicked off and have been amongst the leaders since August.

The free-scoring Reds, playing in front of bumper Racecourse crowds and large away followings, have only lost twice in 23 league games - both away from home where they boast a 100 per cent record - and find themselves second in the table, hot on the heels of leaders Notts County.

With half of the season to go, it is too early to declare it a two-horse race but Wrexham and the Magpies are going to take some catching if they continue the form shown so far.

The feelgood factor has returned since Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds became co-owners and although expectations are even higher, Wrexham are in an excellent position to go on and realise the promotion dream.

There were lots of wonderful wins to celebrate in 2022 but the year began with a 3-1 defeat at Notts County despite Reece Hall-Johnson’s stunning early strike putting Wrexham ahead.

The Reds bounced back as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Yeovil while Parkinson, who strengthened his squad during the January transfer window, saw club record transfer signing Ollie Palmer net the winner on his debut as the Reds beat Grimsby 1-0.

Goals had been hard to come by at The Racecourse and Wrexham were held to a 1-1 draw by Maidenhead before February began with a 1-0 defeat at Torquay.

But the response was brilliant as Wrexham went onto win the next seven games.

A 3-0 FA Trophy success over Boreham Wood was followed by a 2-1 victory at Wealdstone, and Palmer bagged a brace as the Reds won 2-0 at title contenders Chesterfield.

The goals began to flow at home as Wrexham beat Aldershot (4-1), King’s Lynn (2-0) and Boreham Wood (4-2), while James Jones’ late strike meant the Reds overcame Notts County 2-1 on their travels to reach the FA Trophy semi-final.

Promotion was the priority and when Wrexham’s winning run came to an end with a goalless draw at Bromley - goalkeeper Rob Lainton suffered a season-ending wrist injury - there was a lot of ground to make up on leaders Stockport.

But Wrexham got back to winning ways by beating Halifax 3-1 and March ended with a never-to-be-forgotten 6-5 victory over Dover after the Reds trailed 5-2, Jordan Davies’ last-gasp goal securing a memorable win.

Parkinson’s men left it late to defeat Stockport 2-0 in the last four of the Trophy, Paul Mullin scoring two brilliant goals to put Wrexham in the Wembley final, and there were league wins against Barnet (6-0) and Eastleigh (3-2) before a 1-1 draw with Solihull kept the Reds right behind the Hatters.

Wrexham beat Altrincham 4-0 thanks to Davies, leading scorer Mullin (2) and Palmer but the 15-game unbeaten run came to an end at Woking who came from behind to triumph 2-1.

However, Wrexham weren’t done and wins against Weymouth (6-1) and Southend (1-0) kept the title dream alive going into May.

A 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood, who scored a late equaliser, was a blow but Wrexham turned on the style to beat Stockport 3-0 and deny the Hatters the chance to clinch automatic promotion in front of a 10,000-plus Racecourse crowd, deadly strike duo Palmer (2) and Mullin getting the goals.

Wrexham needed to win at Dagenham on the final day and hope that Stockport lost against Halifax to clinch the title but both results went against the Reds, and a below par performance in the Trophy final against Bromley meant there was no silverware in the cabinet.

It all came down to the play-offs and the Reds suffered more heartbreak as Grimsby won a dramatic semi-final as the promotion bid came to a disappointing end.

Wrexham had been one of the form teams in the second half of the season and Parkinson didn’t need to make wholesale changes ahead of a 15th season in the fifth tier after going so close.

Elliot Lee - one of the summer signings - was brought on off the bench as the Reds came from behind to beat Eastleigh 2-1 on the opening day.

That was followed by a 1-1 draw at Yeovil before a rare 2-0 defeat at Chesterfield but the response was brilliant as Mullin fired a hat-trick in a 5-0 victory over Maidstone.

There were further wins against Woking (3-2), Gateshead (3-1), Dorking (5-0) and Dagenham (4-1) before a goalless draw at Southend, but September ended with a 6-0 success over Torquay with Davies, Mullin, Palmer, Aaron Hayden, Sam Dalby and Anthony Forde on target.

Wrexham came from behind to win 2-1 at Oldham but a second defeat arrived in the top of the table clash at Notts County who won 1-0.

However, the Reds then put together a lengthy unbeaten run.

Following a crazy 7-5 win against Barnet, Wrexham drew 1-1 at Boreham Wood but then beat Halifax (3-1), Altrincham (4-0), Maidenhead (1-0) and Scunthorpe (3-1) before drawing 0-0 with Wealdstone.

Wrexham and Notts County were both enjoying stints as leaders, a 2-0 success against Aldershot putting the Reds top, while December began with a 1-1 draw at York and then a 2-0 win against Eastleigh.

There were FA Cup wins during that spell - Wrexham have a third round tie at Coventry City to look forward to next weekend - while the final league game of the year ended in a 5-0 victory against Solihull Moors to maintain the 100 home record.

Mullin scored his third hat-trick of the season and took his tally to 23 goals, leaving the second placed Reds unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions going into the new year.

Wrexham are up there challenging for the title and now they have to finish the job off in 2023.