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| Wrexham joy at relegation escape | Wrexham joy at relegation escape |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Wrexham have pulled off a dramatic last day escape to avoid relegation from the Football League. | Wrexham have pulled off a dramatic last day escape to avoid relegation from the Football League. |
| Thousands of fans celebrated at their Racecourse ground after beating League Two relegation rivals Boston United. | Thousands of fans celebrated at their Racecourse ground after beating League Two relegation rivals Boston United. |
| Joyous fans poured onto the pitch after their 3-1 victory kept league football in north Wales. | Joyous fans poured onto the pitch after their 3-1 victory kept league football in north Wales. |
| Wrexham thought they would need at least a draw, and were 1-0 down at half-time. But three second-half goals condemned Boston to the Conference. | Wrexham thought they would need at least a draw, and were 1-0 down at half-time. But three second-half goals condemned Boston to the Conference. |
| Police and stewards stood no chance of stopping home supporters rushing onto the pitch at the final whistle. | Police and stewards stood no chance of stopping home supporters rushing onto the pitch at the final whistle. |
| Fans had tried to pour onto the pitch after Wrexham's second goal in the 86th minute, and a pitch invasion also seemed a certainty after the third a minute from the end. | Fans had tried to pour onto the pitch after Wrexham's second goal in the 86th minute, and a pitch invasion also seemed a certainty after the third a minute from the end. |
| Fans in the stands had gone from gloom to jubilation. | Fans in the stands had gone from gloom to jubilation. |
| It's amazing how when you are in trouble people really turn out and support the club. Come on boys - we need you back next year Former Wrexham manager Dixie McNeil | It's amazing how when you are in trouble people really turn out and support the club. Come on boys - we need you back next year Former Wrexham manager Dixie McNeil |
| Simon Nicholls, from Oswestry, said: "They made a hash of it in the first-half - typical Wrexham. But I think that made them work for it." | Simon Nicholls, from Oswestry, said: "They made a hash of it in the first-half - typical Wrexham. But I think that made them work for it." |
| His friend, Graham Macleod, from Frodsham, Cheshire, said: "I think we deserved to win in the end but it had been a bit dodgy before." | His friend, Graham Macleod, from Frodsham, Cheshire, said: "I think we deserved to win in the end but it had been a bit dodgy before." |
| The celebrations began to the tune of Status Quo's Rockin' All Over the World but the music was soon drowned by the crowd's chants of "We are staying up". | The celebrations began to the tune of Status Quo's Rockin' All Over the World but the music was soon drowned by the crowd's chants of "We are staying up". |
| Richard Hill, visiting from Manchester with daughter Jennifer, said: "Going behind seems to have done us the world of good. In the end perseverance told. | Richard Hill, visiting from Manchester with daughter Jennifer, said: "Going behind seems to have done us the world of good. In the end perseverance told. |
| "My wife has had me sleeping in a separate room because I have been so nervous. | "My wife has had me sleeping in a separate room because I have been so nervous. |
| 'Too much quality' | |
| "When it's your football club, it's everything - like your family. Especially when it's your town, where you are born and bred." | "When it's your football club, it's everything - like your family. Especially when it's your town, where you are born and bred." |
| Fans will hope the game is another turning point after a dreadful few years for the club. In 2004 Wrexham had £4m debts, went into administration, were deducted 10 points and then relegated to League Two. | |
| The stands at the Racecourse were packed for the showdown | The stands at the Racecourse were packed for the showdown |
| The situation improved in 2006 when they were taken over by a consortium and came out of administration, but relegation from the Football League would have raised new questions over their future. | The situation improved in 2006 when they were taken over by a consortium and came out of administration, but relegation from the Football League would have raised new questions over their future. |
| Manager Brian Carey said the occasion had affected his team, who were "absolutely dreadful" in the first 45 minutes of a game he called "the biggest in the club's history". | Manager Brian Carey said the occasion had affected his team, who were "absolutely dreadful" in the first 45 minutes of a game he called "the biggest in the club's history". |
| "But I think we just had too much quality in the end," he said. | "But I think we just had too much quality in the end," he said. |
| "It was the players who did this. They realised they were on their way down to the Conference." | "It was the players who did this. They realised they were on their way down to the Conference." |
| Former Wrexham player and manager Dixie McNeil was delighted by the result, and said Boston had given Wrexham a real run for their money. | Former Wrexham player and manager Dixie McNeil was delighted by the result, and said Boston had given Wrexham a real run for their money. |
| A 12,300 crowd turned up for the game, and McNeil, a BBC Wales football pundit, said: "It's amazing how when you are in trouble people really turn out and support the club. | A 12,300 crowd turned up for the game, and McNeil, a BBC Wales football pundit, said: "It's amazing how when you are in trouble people really turn out and support the club. |
| "The turnout today has been fantastic. Come on boys - we need you back next year." | "The turnout today has been fantastic. Come on boys - we need you back next year." |
| After the drama of the day, Wrexham finished 19th in the table, a comfortable four places above the last relegation spot. They also ended up with 51 points, five clear of Boston. | After the drama of the day, Wrexham finished 19th in the table, a comfortable four places above the last relegation spot. They also ended up with 51 points, five clear of Boston. |