'Phenomenal' Rathbone boosting Wrexham's play-off bid

Phenomenal. That was how boss Phil Parkinson described Ollie Rathbone's impact during his 18 months at Wrexham after the midfielder signed a new contract last week.

All it took was a few days for Rathbone to confirm Parkinson was not exaggerating.

The 29-year-old former Manchester United trainee's winning goal at Charlton on Saturday was his seventh in 17 league and cup appearances since returning from a long-term ankle injury in mid-December.

And he does not do simple goals either. No tap-ins or close-range headers. His 30th-minute strike at Charlton - a clever flick with his right foot followed by a low, pinpoint volley into the bottom corner with his left - was another collector's item.

"The ball came to me, I shifted it and I tried to hit the target. Nothing more to it, really," was Rathbone's modest assessment.

"I think it's instinctive when it comes to you so quickly. But also a lifetime of practice."

On the significance of his match-winning effort in south London, Rathbone added, "We had to work really hard for the win.

"Charlton are a team that constantly put you under pressure so you've got to get to the ball as quickly as possible.

"They're difficult to play against. We've played them four times over the past two seasons now [in League One and the Championship], and always acquitted ourselves really well."

Each Rathbone wonder goal seems to look more vital than the last given Wrexham are trying to secure a play-off place, their 1-0 win at The Valley earning the Red Dragons a precious four-point cushion inside the top six.

And three successive league wins have put Wrexham just six points below second-placed Middlesbrough in the race for the top flight - a pretty neat way to go into Saturday's big fifth-round FA Cup tie with Chelsea at the Stok Cae Ras.

"We can really enjoy the Chelsea game now," said Rathbone.

"We don't get the opportunity to take our eyes off the ball. It's always the next game that matters so we hadn't really talked about Chelsea.

"But now we can look forward to it. We've got nothing to lose and it'll be a special day."

Rathbone said it was a "no-brainer" to sign his contract extension last week that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2027-28 season, with fellow midfielder George Dobson agreeing a similar 12-month add-on.

"I had no other options...it was that or nothing," he joked.

"I'm really happy at the club. I think me and George have had a fantastic 18 months here. It's a great place to be."