Adam Marriott struck a stunning solo effort in the ninety-third minute as Cambridge United came from 2-0 down to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.
The young centre forward's goal was his first ever league goal at Conference level and couldn't have come at a better time. Poor defending allowed Wrexham to take a two goal lead inside fifteen minutes and The U's worked hard with very little effect until Danny Crow converted a penalty nine minutes from time and Marriott netted the equaliser.
United named an unchanged side with Aiden Palmer returning from injury to take a place on the bench. Wrexham named former U's loanee Christian Smith in their starting line up.
United started brightly and could have been ahead after just two minutes as Rory McAuley found himself unmarked from a right wing corner before seeing his header cleared off the line by Mark Jones. Danny Crow had a clear shout for a penalty turned down for handball, before the game changed completely with a quick-fire Wrexham brace.
First Andy Mangan was set free through the middle by Smith before firing across Simon Brown, finding the net via the post, and then Smith himself scored against his old club by crashing home a header from a left wing corner. After a bright start, two defensive lapses saw United two down in under fifteen minutes.
United managed to enjoy a large amount of possession after that but were unable to move the ball forward quickly or effectively enough. Scott Neilson saw an effort charged down from outside the penalty area before Antonio Murray saw an effort deflected over after good work from Neilson. From the corner Dan Gleeson lashed an effort only just off target from thirty yards.
Wrexham soon managed to wrestle possession back into their favour and looked the more likely to score for the remainder of the half. Sakho was caught offside numerous times, but the one time he stayed onside he fired an effort just wide of the far post. Half time arrive with United needing a climb a mountain in order to salvage anything from the fixture.
Martin Ling made a change at the break, taking Rory McAuley off and bringing Jai Reason on, while Chris Baynes came on for the hosts.
United saw plenty of the ball but still struggled to create any openings. Willock snatched at a shot from twenty yards before being replaced by Lee Phillips as United still failed to exert any real pressure on Sam Russell's goal.
As time went on Martin Ling changed the system in an attempt to force matters as Josh Coulson was replaced by Adam Marriott a quarter of an hour from time. United's 206 travelling fans who had beaten the atrocious road conditions were given little to cheer despite seeing so much of the ball.
That changed eight minutes from time as United won and converted a penalty to reduce the deficit. A corner wasn't dealt with and a spot kick was given for a push on David Partridge inside the six yard box. Danny Crow stepped up to send Russell the wrong way.
United ended with three strikers and Brian Saah upfront, and they snatched a point in the third minute of stoppage time. Adam Marriott picked the ball up twenty-five yards out before unleashing a stunning low effort into the near corner from just outside the box. It was his first ever Conference goal and rescued a point for Martin Ling's side.
Marriott could have won it but was denied by Russell, bringing the action to a close after a breathless finale.
Man of the match: While recently United have had a number of players on form at the same time, the opposite was the case today. Danny Crow just gets the nod for his typically tiresome display in which he was provided with precious little support from his team mates for large periods, although Dan Gleeson and sub Jai Reason deserve credit for solid displays.
Full minute-by-minute report below.
Reporting by Matt Ramsay.
14.57 Afternoon all and a thousand apologies for the late appearance of this live text, I'm sure I'm not the only one to be struck by the appalling traffic. Off we go though, United name an unchanged eleven.
The teams: United: Brown, Gleeson, Coulson, Saah, Partridge, Neilson, Carden, McAuley, Murray, Crow, Willock.
Wrexham: Sam Russell, Silvio Spann, Ashley Westwood, Mike Williams, Neil Taylor, Mark Jones, Andy Fleming, Christian Smith, Luke Holden, Lamine Sakho, Andy Mangan.
15.00 We're off, Wrexham in their traditional red and white with United in amber. United win a throw near the corner flag immediately. There are rugby markings as well as football after sporting action of a different kind last night. Danny Crow wins a corner on the right wing.
15.02 A second corner finds Rory McAuley in acres of space, and his powerful header is cleared off the line by Mark Jones.
15.07 United are denied a clear penalty as Crow forages into the box on the right and his cross hits the raised hands of Silvio Spann. Not given though and Crow isn't happy. Fulham won a penalty like that on Thursday night and this incident was even more clear cut.
15.08 GOAL Wrexham 1-0 CUFC. Former U Christian Smith picks out a lofted ball between the two centre halves and Andy Mangan picks the ball up unmarked and fires across the helpless Simon Brown via the far post.
15.12 United are letting Calum Willock stretch his legs on the flanks and the striker wins a throw in near the corner, not for the first time today already. A bright start by United but they find themselves a goal down.
15.13 GOAL Wrexham 2-0 CUFC. Wrexham should have another. Sakho beats the offside trap but fires too close to Brown. But they make sure from the corner, Smith powering a header past the again-helpless Brown. People are starting to wish they were still stuck in traffic.
15.19 Not much action outside the middle third to report on, with United seeing most of the ball. Scott Neilson wins a corner for his side but it's wasted.
15.21 Wrexham go direct again with a ball aimed to Mangan, and Brian Saah clearly and needlessly swings a hand at the ball, conceding a freekick wide right twenty yards out. Luke Holden hits it left footed but Brown gets down to save, and holds the ball well in a muddy goal mouth area.
15.23 Scott Neilson takes a ball down well under pressure before trying a speculative effort from outside the box, but sees his strike charged down. United have a mountain to climb, to say the least.
15.24 Paul Carden wins a freekick for at least the third time already today, to the irritation of the home fans. But they're cheered up when a foul is given from the resulting freekick.
15.25 Striker Sakho dives shamefully yet shamelessly on the edge of the box, and the referee is rightly unimpressed. Play s halted for Christian Smith to receive treatment to a knock.
15.28 Antonio Murray is tugged back on his way out of the area and wins a freekick on the left wing. It has to be said the contact started inside the box. The delivery is headed away. Wrexham break and Sakho is again offside, and Mangan is booked for foolishly kicking the ball away.
15.30 Sakho is caught offside for the fourth time in five minutes. It isn't clear if the home fans are more annoyed at the linesman or their striker.
15.31 Neilson rides a number of tackles inside the box and tees up Murray, who sees his effort deflected over by a fine covering tackle. The ball is cleared to Dan Gleeson, who pastes a cracking effort from almost forty yards which is only just wide.
15.34 Neilson is United's most dangerous outlet at the moment. He again makes good progress without a defender getting near him, before he drags his effort wide from twenty yards.
15.36 Silvio Spann gets up well from right back and delivers a ball in which Brian Saah needs to head clear, before doing the same just moments later to the same effect.
15.38 Spann looks dangerous again but his cross floats out for a goalkick. United aren't getting close enough to their opponents when Wrexham have possession. Sakho stays onside this time and fires just wide of the far post.
15.40 CRC are a goal down at home to Woodbridge Town, just to cheer you up even more. The hosts have seen almost all of the ball in the last few minutes.
15.41 Sakho looks to stretch his legs with Mangan offering an overlap before Dan Gleeson commits a cynical foul to halt the move and earn himself a booking.
15.42 Christian Smith goes down again and needs treatment once more, although the referee didn't deem the challenge on him to be a foul.
15.44 Carden is caught by a nasty late tackle by Smith, that's why they called him Brick Wall when he was at The Abbey. The goalscorer is booked. Three minutes are to be added on as Andy Mangan pulls up with an injury of some form.
15.47 Willock wins a baffling freekick just outside the corner of the box, even though it appeared he was committing the foul. Carden over hits the delivery which Josh Coulson does well to keep in, before the ball is cleared. A ball forward is well flicked on by Willock, but Sam Russell beats Crow to the ball. That's the last action of the half, United having a lot of work to do to salvage anything from the game.
HALF TIME Wrexham 2-0 Cambridge United
16.03 United's players are back out before their hosts, hopefully after a half time roasting from Martin Ling.
16.05 A change at half time for The U's as Jai Reason comes on for Rory McAuley. Mark Jones goes off for Wrexham to be replaced by Chris Baynes. We're off again.
16.09 Danny Crow nearly has success chasing down a backpass, but Sam Russell just about clears the danger. United's fans find their voice (and their drum) as a set piece sends the whole back four forward, ending with the ball in Russell's hands.
16.12 United have had a massive majority of the ball so far after half time, it just remains to be seen if they create the chances required to get back into the game.
16.14 Danny Crow makes his way back into his own half to win the ball for his side, before Neilson and Reason combine to set up Willock, but he snatches at his shot and the ball trickles wide.
16.17 Wrexham create their first chance of the half after good work by Sakho but Mangan is unable to control the ball and it runs through to Brown.
16.20 Attendance today is 2106. Hard to see how many of them are from Cambridge seeing as they're in the same stand as the press area.
16.21 Danny Crow goes down in pain after a crude tackle from Ashley Westwood, who is booked. 205 of that attendance above are away fans.
16.23 Gleeson hits a hugely ambitious effort from wide on the left. Brian Saah goes in late on Baynes, without malice, and is booked. Lee Phillips comes on for Calum Willock for United, while Kai Edwards makes his way on for Wrexham in place of Lamine Sakho. That's a defender on for a striker.
16.25 Sam Ives equalises for CRC at home to Woodbridge as Christian Smith lashes a left footed effort miles over from some distance out.
16.27 United have benefitted from a number of dubious refereeing decisions today but Jai Reason is penalised for an alleged foul thirty yards out. Simon Brown elects to punch but can only concede a corner.
16.32 United go all out attack now as Adam Marriott comes on for Josh Coulson. Eighteen minutes for him to make an impact.
16.33 An opening for United as Kai Edwards gives the ball away to Crow, who has options to his left but elects to shoot. The ball goes over but Marriott forces Silvio Spann to concede a corner as the ball comes back. Smith heads the ball away.
16.35 A quarter of an hour to go and Matty Wolfenden replaces goalscorer Andy Mangan in the sixth and final substitution of the afternoon.
16.39 Jai Reason delivers a freekick from deep and Scott Neilson gets up well to head wide. Ten minutes left.
16.40 Baynes is booked for taking his time over a throw-in. When it eventually comes in, Simon Brown needs to be alert to stop Edwards pouncing on a loose ball.
16.41 PENALTY. GOAL. Wrexham 2-1 CUFC. Ashley Westwood is caught out from a corner and a penalty is given for handball in a goalmouth scramble. Danny Crow sends the keeper the wrong way to give United hope eight minutes from time.
16.45 Jai Reason swivels and fires over, before Wrexham's fans bellow their ironic applause as the referee finally gives a freekick in their favour.
16.48 Another flurry of freekicks for both sides are awarded by a referee who has had very little control on the game all afternoon. Brian Saah seems to be playing centre forward, with Paul Carden filling in at right back.
16.50 A half chance in the last minute of the ninety as a ball bounces to Adam Marriott twenty yards out, but he blazes over. Five minutes have been added on and we're into that time now. Jai Reason gets to the byeline and flashes a cross across goal which evades everybody.
16.52 GOAL. Wrexham 2-2 Cambridge United. Three minutes into stoppage time and Adam Marriott has just produced a wondergoal, picking the ball up twenty-five yards out, runs at goal and drives a right footed effort into the near corner from the edge of the box.
16.54 Marriott is just too slow to react to a through ball, allowing keeper Russell to make a crucial save.
16.56 A breathless end to this game. It's all over and Adam Marriott is the hero.
FULL TIME Wrexham 2-2 Cambridge United.
