With a 2-0 victory at Exeter City last Saturday, Wrexham are now only seven games from three straight promotions.

Elsewhere in Welsh football, Cardiff City Women win the Adran Premier and there were important draws for the two Championship sides. Let’s dig into the packed footballing weekend:

Wrexham close in on third straight promotion

Manager Phil Parkinson challenged his side to continue their ‘relentless’ form as Wrexham edge closer to a third straight promotion.

With a 2-0 victory at Exeter City last Saturday, thanks to goals from Ollie Rathbone and former Premier League striker Jay Rodriguez, Wrexham are now three points clear of Wycombe Wanderers in third place.

Rodriguez’s goal, just his second since signing for Wrexham on an 18-month deal, typifies the club’s experience-first recruitment strategy: Wrexham have six players in their squad with Premier League experience.

However, Wycombe still have a game in hand, meaning Wrexham will have to maintain their form if they are to make it three promotions in as many seasons.

“All we can do is what we’ve done today,” Parkinson said at St James park after a fifth win in six games.

“It’s ‘let’s get out of here, get back up the road, get rested, and get ready for another game’ because we have got to be relentless in our pursuit of being in that top two.”

Swansea Snatch Late Draw At Leeds

In a back-and-forth match at Elland Road, Swansea snatched a late draw, just as it looked like they would fall to third straight defeat.

Brenden Aaronson opened the scoring for the home side after just 35 seconds, before Harry Darling equalised via a Illan Meslier error early in the second half.

In between the goals, Josh Tymon had a penalty saved by the Leeds goalkeeper. It was Swansea’s first penalty since regular taker Matt Grimes joined Coventry City, with Alan Sheehan confirming that striker Zan Vipotnik would have taken it had he been on the pitch.

The Slovenian international did come on in the second half and would score the dramatic 96th minute equaliser, after Wilfried Gnonto has seemingly won the match with his drilled finish, four minutes from time.

Joe Allen, whose unfortunate mistake almost cost Wales in North Macedonia last week, played a brilliant through ball to Vipotnik to score Swansea’s second.

“I suppose it’s two passes this week,” said Swansea caretaker head coach Sheehan.

“You are talking about the pass Joe made for Wales and then you are talking about that inch-perfect, weighted pass [for Vipotnik].

“This is the detail you are talking about. He is leaving that there in the 96th minute at Elland Road so he can hit it first time… that’s top level.”

Riza questions mentality after draw

Cardiff remain deep in the Championship relegation battle after a frustrating draw with Sheffield Wednesday. The Bluebirds had dominated the first half and deservedly led the visitors 1-0 at the break, thanks to a composed Isaak Davies finish.

Omer Riza’s side were left to rue their missed chances, however, when Michael Ihiekwe headed in a corner just after the hour mark. Cardiff could not rally after the setback, and had to settle for a point.

“It just seems to be an element of a mental thing with the boys,” Riza said after the draw at Cardiff City Stadium.

“They didn’t apply enough pressure in the second half. They sat and allowed them to have a bit more time in the midfield areas, which put us on the back foot, which was disappointing.”

Perhaps more worrying is the fact that club captain Joe Ralls looks to have potentially played his last game for the club. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, the 31-year-old midfielder left the field with a calf injury that looks set to keep him out of action until the end of the league campaign.

With Derby and Luton both picking up important wins over the weekend, Cardiff remain deep in the relegation battle.

Cardiff City win third straight Adran title

If Wrexham’s men’s side want a good omen that things in football do indeed come in threes, then they need not look any further than the Adran Premier.

Cardiff beat The New Saints 3-1 on Sunday to clinch a third successive title, while their opponents had to settle with fourth, having failed to win a point in the Championship Conference.

Briton Ferry finished second, seven points above Wrexham, who they beat 1-3 at The Racecourse. In the Plate Conference, Swansea ended the season on a high, winning their last three games, including a 3-0 victory at Barry Town United. Aberystwyth Town beat 2-1 Cardiff Met to round off the season, consigning Met to relegation.

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