There are some matches that really make a difference. This might have been one of them.

Alfreton are fulfilling the role in the Conference Premier that Stoke do in the Premier League. They’re physical, awkward, hard to play against and likely to surprise you, especially at their own ground. Just ask Newport or Luton, or indeed think back to how we went out of the FA Cup this season!

Anyway, a draw at Alfreton on a cold, wet January night would probably be a decent result in the great scheme of things. A draw there after having your in-form player sent off minutes into the second half would be a serious achievement. Winning in those circumstances feels massively significant.

I can’t wait to see Joe Clarke’s goal, described as being worthy of Leo Messi on the club’s official twitter feed. The fact that it took a superb save to prevent Adrian Cieslewicz putting the cherry on top minutes later underlines that this was a performance of real character.

That Joslain Mayebi was kept busy shows that we had to dig in at times against the extra man, but to not only cling on, but snatch a win, was the sort of achievement which reasserts a side’s title credentials. I fancied us all along, but after showing such fortitude, our challengers must be looking at us and realising it’s going to take a terrific effort to knock us off our stride.

Wrexham: Mayebi, Alfei, Riley, Westwood, Ashton; Clarke, Keates, Harris; Ogleby (Rushton 63), D Wright, Hunt (Cieslewicz 55)

Miscellaneous: Wright’s third red card for Wrexham.