PAUL MULLIN scored his 100th goal for Wrexham who came from behind to beat Colchester United 2-1 at The JobServe Community Stadium and give the League Two promotion challenge a massive boost.

Mullin, who arrived at The Racecourse from Cambridge United in the summer of 2021, became a centurion in under three seasons at the club and took his tally for the season to 22 goals when he cancelled out Colchester's opener.

Max Cleworth went onto score a late winner against the relegation-threatened U's as Phil Parkinson's side climbed above Mansfield into second in the table, four points behind leaders Stockport County.

MK Dons are now third, still two points behind the Reds, while the Stags, Barrow and Crewe all lost ground in the race for a top-three finish.

Wrexham have four games remaining in the quest for a second successive promotion, with three of those at home.

Parkinson made four changes from the side that started the 1-0 defeat to Doncaster in the previous outing.

Ryan Barnett took from Luke Bolton in the wing wing-back position and Steven Fletcher was preferred to Ollie Palmer up front.

Left wing-back Jacob Mendy returned from injury, allowing James McClean to move into midfield where there was also a recall for George Evans. Mendy and Evans came into the team for Will Boyle and Elliot Lee.

After Wrexham won three corners in the opening 10 minutes, Andy Cannon cleared the crossbar with a shot from just outside the area with the Reds' first sight of goal.

Colchester appealed for a penalty which was not given after Mendy challenged Jay Mingi in the area and the Reds quickly countered, with Mullin dragging his effort wide.

The U's came had an even better opportunity when Arthur Okonkwo spilled a cross and Connor Hall hooked his shot over the bar while Ellis Iandolo mishit his attempt on goal from a good position and the ball went behind.

It was Colchester who continued to create chances and John Akinde wasn't far away with a header from Cameron McGeehan's corner.

Parkinson was forced into a change in the 34th minute when Mendy limped off injured and was replaced by Lee who came into the midfield, meaning McClean switched back to the left wing-back role.

Alistair Smith immediately fired over as Colchester continued to press and McGeehan's low drive was saved by Okonkwo.

There was finally an opportunity for Wrexham following a neat move with Mullin firing wide from McClean's cross while Eoghan O'Connell got a touch to Tom O'Connor's free-kick but his glancing header went narrowly wide with the final chance of the first half where Colchester were the better side.

However, the second period was only nine minutes old when the home team took the lead.

Akinde took advantage of poor defending in the area as the U's striker riffled a low drive past Okonkwo into the bottom corner.

Mullin went close to an equaliser with a volley which fell narrowly wide but Wrexham were back on level terms in the 62nd minute.

Barnett sent in a cross and Mullin found the back of the net with a well-executed header.

The goal gave Wrexham fresh impetus and Andy Cannon volleyed wide but the Reds went 2-1 up with five minutes remaining.

Evans delivered a long throw-in and Cleworth headed past goalkeeper Owen Goodman to secure the comeback win.

Colchester United )(3-4-1-2): Goodman; Mingi, Hall, Dallison (Jay 89); Anderson, Read, Smith (Chilvers 79), Iandolo (Fevrier 66); McGeehan (Ihionvien 89); Akinde (Tovide 66), Hopper. Subs not used: Hornby, Kelleher.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Okonkwo; Barnett (Bolton 83), Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor, Mendy (Lee 34); Cannon, Evans, McClean; Mullin (Marrioott 83), Fletcher (Palmer 66). Subs not used: Howard, Tozer, Davies.

Attendance: 8,432 (1,278 from Wrexham).