The matchday everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived, Notts County make the trip to Wales in a face-off which could decide the league title. This game is quite possibly the biggest in National League history and Wrexham will have a packed-out Racecourse to witness it, alongside the thousands watching at home.

There is no disputing what’s at stake, as a win for Wrexham almost certainly confirms the title whereas for Notts a win would largely put the title into their own hands as the clock runs down for the rest of the season. Quite simply, for any chance of the title, this is a must-win game for Notts and a must-not-lose game for Wrexham.

There’s no doubt that anyone could’ve come to predict the absolute carnage which this season has had to offer with these two clubs. Wrexham fully resurrected under the ownership of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds providing the pull of League one and former Premiership players, whilst Notts County have turned on the style and the grit under Head Coach Luke Williams, playing possibly the best football the National League has ever seen. Two giants of the non-league going head-to-head, battling it out until the very end…you couldn’t write it.

To put into perspective how well Notts and Wrexham are doing this season, Wrexham, currently 2^nd on goal difference, sit a huge 25 points above closest competitor Woking in 3^rd and Notts who are currently top of the league, sit 36 points above the final play-off position, with Eastleigh holding 7^th as it stands.

In the reverse fixture at Meadow Lane, Notts County triumphed over their title rivals in a ridiculously tight affair where only a well-worked short freekick routine, with a Langstaff finish could separate the two sides however it’s predicted this upcoming fixture will be more of a goal fest which both sides desperate for the three points, more so now as every point becomes ever more important to the title race.

Notts come into this game off the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over 12^th place Wealdstone at the glorious Meadow Lane where Macaulay Langstaff wrote history in becoming the highest scoring player in a single season, ever in the National League, as he hit 41 goals. However, this achievement was rightfully overshadowed as the game was a tribute to Jason Turner who recently passed away and we all believe he would’ve been proud of the performance Notts put on.

The Notts game also had goals from the man of the match, Sam Austin in the early stages of the game as Notts pounced on a poor pass at the back before Langstaff supplied Austin for him to score a beautiful goal, bending it the bottom corner from inside the box in just the 7^th minute. A fantastic ball from Notts keeper Archie Mair sent Langstaff through one-on-one with Wealdstone goalkeeper Sam Howes and there was only going to be one winner, giving the Notts frontman his record-breaking goal on 60 minutes. The scoring was topped off by Frank Vincent who has taken on a new role under head coach Luke Williams, playing more as a left sided wing-back, which moves Chicksen out to the right-hand side. Chicksen played a part in this final goal as a ball was put into the box to the feet of recently recovered Scott, whos’ shot was parried out to the patiently waiting Frank Vincent who, with work to do, placed the ball into the net, topping off the scoring in the 76^th minute.

Notts have made that their third win on the trot and fourth in the last five games with only a draw with Barnet scuffing their perfect record of recent matches. That’s 13 out of a possible 15 points and with those results, Notts have scored 13 and conceded only 2 goals in that time, even with first-choice goalkeeper Sam Slocombe out through injury during a lot of that time.

Wrexham however didn’t secure the three points in their last game or a point at all, as they came to their first loss of the season since losing to Notts back at the beginning of October. Halifax took all three points in a game which may have turned the tides in the title race. Wrexham went 1-0 up on the 32^nd minute through a goal from the in-form Elliot Lee and went into half-time with the advantage and most neutrals (and fans to be fair) would’ve assumed that’s game over for Halifax and another three points for the ‘Red Dragons’. Halifax however didn’t want to believe that and came out all guns blazing, netting an equaliser through Millenic Alli on 47 minutes as the game turned. Wrexham turned the screw and piled on the pressure which Halifax withstood before scoring on a counter-attack on 70 minutes, again through Millenic Alli. The scoring finally came to a halt on the 84^th minute as Halifax wrapped up all three points through Emmanuel Dieseruvwe with a quick snapshot, beating former premier league goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Wrexham’s recent loss has stopped a huge 28 game unbeaten streak for the club and is the only time they’ve dropped points in the last five. They’ve picked up an impressive 12 points from a possible 15, scoring 12 goals and conceding 5 in that time.

In recent history, Notts have been a bogey team for the welsh hosts in league fixtures especially since the start of the 2019/20 season, Notts have picked up the bulk of points, gaining 14 of the 18 available. This includes two draws which are the only points Wrexham have got from ‘The Magpies’ since they dropped into the National League a few years back. Since the 2019/20 season Notts have scored 10 goals and conceded four in the six games they’ve had within the league timetable.

But history is only that and this season is what matters and the form these two sides have been on this season is unbelievable with Notts losing only two games all season and Wrexham only losing three. These two sides, both sitting on 100 points this season, deserve the upmost respect from any football fans as they go head-to-head in the game of the season. Notts have only lost one game away from home to the recently promoted Dorking Wanderers and Wrexham are yet to lose a game at the Racecourse this season so there’s no telling the task at hand for Luke Williams’ side as they head to Wrexham’s fortress.

I don’t believe the threats both teams have in their armoury need any introduction as the two league top scorers clash again with Mullin and Langstaff both almost certain to have an impact on the game but the quality doesn’t end there for either side with an experienced Ben Tozer at the back for Wrexham meeting his Notts County counterpart Aiden Baldwin who controls the back line for the Magpies. Captains Kyle Cameron and Luke Young lead their two respective sides into battle and attacking stars Ruben Rodrigues and Elliot Lee will need to be at their best to give their team the best chance at the title.

There cannot be a favourite for this game as both sides equal out any sort of advantage the other may have. This will be the greatest game in National League history and to be writing on such now is such a privilege. I feel so incredibly lucky that as a fan, I get to be a part of this unbelievable matchup between two unbelievable teams. Ladies and gentlemen, this game will be a huge decider in who plays in the EFL next season and you get to witness it, so soak it in, enjoy the experience and COME ON YOU PIES!

*Article provided by Matthew Dudley (Notts County Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Macaulay Langstaff will be hoping to add to his impressive goal tally.