Inside Wrexham’s party with Reynolds and McElhenney’s Foster reaction

Rob McElhenney gave Wrexham penalty hero Ben Foster a kiss in the changing rooms after denying Notts County a stoppage-time equaliser from the spot to fire the Welsh team to the top of the National League. Wrexham beat title rivals Notts County 3-2 at the Racecourse Ground, a game which had the two teams tied on 100 points before kick-off.

Paul Mullin cancelled out former Premier League midfielder John Bostock’s emphatic first-half opener with a free kick. Jacob Mendy then handed Wrexham the lead before Notts County captain Kyle Cameron stabbed in the fourth goal of the game.

Elliot Lee then capitalised on a Notts County mistake to restore Wrexham’s lead, before former Manchester United goalkeeper Foster was called into action in stoppage time, saving a penalty struck by Cedwyn Scott to secure three points.

The win took Wrexham back to the top of the National League, where they now hold a three-point and one game-in-hand over title rivals Notts County with four games left to play, with the Hollywood-owned club on the brink of the fourth tier of English football. After Foster’s delirious save, wild celebrations ensued, with co-owners Ryan Reynolds and McElhenney joining in with changing room celebrations.

In fact, McElhenney gave Foster a kiss on his chops to thank him for his stoppage-time heroics. Foster revealed: “They came into the dressing room and were just buzzing…Rob kissed me on the lips and Ryan called me a double handsome bastard – I’ll take that!

“They’re over the moon, and I said you’d better end the documentary now, because you’ll never get a better game of football than that, no matter how many you go to. They’re probably worn out along with everyone else now.”

Foster added: “That’s about as good as it gets. The performance was phenomenal – what a performance, I was playing in the game and I was buzzing off it. That was honestly as good as it gets, I can not remember playing in any better football matches, honestly.”

Foster’s last-gasp penalty save did have a downside’ it gave him a cramp. He admitted: “I made the save and I had cramp in my calf, but I still had the corner to come, and I was saying ‘don’t get cramp now – the game’s not over’. What a time to get it – but I am 40 years old.

“I normally call out keepers who celebrate saving penalties, but I couldn’t help celebrating because it meant so much. It was billed as the biggest game ever in non-league football and they’re usually rubbish with that build-up, but this was an incredible game, it was so enjoyable playing in it.”