Wrexham 1-1 Maidenhead United: Shawn McCoulsky denies hosts at the death

Aaron Hayden joined Wrexham from Carlisle United for an undisclosed fee in August 2021

Shawn McCoulsky scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Maidenhead United to deny 10-man Wrexham in the National League.

Wrexham played for 86 minutes with 10 men after striker Paul Mullin was sent off, but Aaron Hayden's header put the hosts ahead to settle early nerves.

But the home side's inability to score a second goal proved costly as McCoulsky's header earned a point.

Maidenhead are up to 19th while Wrexham remain sixth.

The Magpies had won October's reverse fixture at York Road, a game in which Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney watched their team for the first time.

Alan Devonshire's side had suffered their first defeat in five games in midweek, losing 3-0 at leaders Stockport County while Wrexham's win over Grimsby on Tuesday was a second victory in succession to maintain their promotion challenge.

Mullin was shown a straight red card after only four minutes for a high challenge on Josh Smile.

But the hosts responded to their top scorer's early dismissal by taking the lead 14 minutes later through Hayden's header from a trademark Ben Tozer long throw.

Phil Parkinson's side looked comfortable despite being a man down and Reece Hall-Johnson could have doubled their lead, but the full-back could not find the target.

Maidenhead had barely threatened during the first half, but within a minute of the restart Rob Lainton had to make a smart save to deny Josh Kelly.

Record signing Ollie Palmer, who had to plough a lone furrow up front, headed over from Hall-Johnson's cross while Jordan Davies fired wide as Wrexham chased a second goal.

Lainton tipped over from substitute Sam Barratt's cross during a frantic period of stoppage time as Maidenhead piled on the pressure, eventually levelling through McCoulsky's header from a cross into the box.

Wrexham assistant manager Steve Parkin:

"The late goal just takes away that little bit of gloss. The chances we created we probably deserved to win.

"We've had opportunities in the home games to go 2-0 up and we just need to be more clinical in the opposition's box.

"I just think the referee's have got to back their own judgement. He decided it was a yellow card, got his book out and ready to put his (Mullin's) name in it.

"To change his mind for somebody who's an extra 50 yards away from where he is, we can't understand that."

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