ALTRINCHAM 0, WREXHAM 2
Hollywood came to town and Wrexham had the perfect script as their victory at Altrincham lifted them to third place in National League.
And only one defeat in the last nine league games has reinforced a belief that the Welsh side can regain the EFL status which was lost in 2008.
That would make the perfect storyline for the documentary which movie star owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are making about their first season at the club.
The leading roles in this production were played by Aaron Hayden and Bryce Hosannah, the scorers of first-half goals which earned Wrexham another three points in their pursuit of promotion before 1,166 travelling fans in a crowd of 3,145.
They hit the road in their droves as they are unable to watch home games with fans banned in Wales due to Covid-19 restrictions.
In another bizarre twist, a manager named Phil Parkinson had to be a winner as both bosses shared the same name.
It was another disappointing day for Altrincham who are without a win in seven league and cup games as they have slipped to 15th place.
The two teams both had good cause to forget Boxing Day as Altrincham were thumped 5-1 at neighbours Stockport County while Wrexham’s home fixture against Solihull Moors was postponed through coronavirus in the Welsh camp.
Wrexham, who claim to be the third oldest professional football club in the world, came close to taking a sixth minute lead when Jordan Davies’ header from Luke Young’s corner was scrambled to safety.
Altrincham would have stolen ahead but for a fabulous save from Rob Lainton to turn over a free kick which Ryan Colclough bent over the defensive wall.
It was then the turn of Robins’ keeper Tony Thompson to excel to turn away Hayden’s header from Davies’ free kick.
The relief was temporary as Wrexham took the lead moments later in the 24th minute.
Davies crossed from the left to the far post where the ball was headed back across the face of goal by Ben Tozer for Hayden to find the net with a diving header from inside the six-yard box for his fourth goal of the season for the former Carlisle United player.
And it got worse for the hosts when Wrexham doubled their advantage.
Jordan Ponticelli’s initial header looped over Thompson and struck the angle of bar and upright before being turned in by Hosannah from the tightest of angles.
It was the first goal for Wrexham from the former Crystal Palace and Leeds United youth team player.
Altrincham could have halved the deficit when a drive from David Fitzpatrick was deflected for a corner and Kennedy Digie then saw a header drift narrowly wide across the face of goal.
Wrexham would have added a third in first half stoppage time but for Thompson doing well to beat away a shot from James Jones.
And that was also the case just after the hour when Thompson made a super save to turn Ben Tozer’s shot round the post for a corner.
Altrincham, in fairness, kept plugging away as substitute Dean Furman fired over and dragged a shot wide while Ryan Colclough had a goalbound effort deflected for a corner and late on Jake Moult’s header flashed just past the upright.
Their spirit was commendable, but the part-timers were always up against it with Wrexham full time and with financial muscle many EFL clubs can only envy.