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Wrexham travelled to the Welsh capital to face Cardiff for the first time since 2002, and the two teams produced what was unquestionably the standout match of the weekend.

Kieffer Moore scored the game’s first goal when he found space inside the box and lofted the ball over Nathan Trott to put Wrexham ahead after only three minutes.

Cardiff saw plenty of possession across the contest but lacked the sharpness needed to get something from the match, until local talent Rubin Colwill stepped up to a free-kick in the 97th minute and curled it into the top corner to make it 1-1 and snatch a point for the Bluebirds.

Wrexham made two alterations after their Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough in their previous outing, with Anthony Patterson and Moore coming in for Danny Ward and Sam Smith. Cardiff, meanwhile, brought in Jack Moylan, Calum Scanlon and Chris Willock in place of Ronan Kpakio, David Turnball and Isaak Davies.

It took Wrexham very little time to open the scoring, and Moore was the man to do it. He got free in the area and delicately lifted the ball over Nathan Trott into the far corner with a fine finish, before celebrating in front of the Canton End. Wrexham almost had another soon after, but Trott pushed Callum Doyle’s header over the bar.

Wrexham kept pressing in the opening phase, with Danny Imray driving into the penalty area before being stopped by Scanlon’s sliding challenge. Play was then briefly halted when Imray landed awkwardly while contesting a header, though he was able to continue after treatment.

Cardiff’s first genuine opening arrived in the 21st minute, when Yousef Salech raced through on goal only to be denied by Patterson, who rushed off his line quickly to make the stop. The home side continued to settle into the game and had another attempt two minutes later, but Moylan blasted well over from inside the area. Soon after, Cian Ashford also tested Patterson.

Moore received the first yellow card of the evening on the half-hour after body-checking Gabriel Osho. Just minutes later, he came close to scoring his second of the night, but his header brushed the crossbar and went over. Imray remained a threat going forward as he got beyond Scanlon and forced Trott into an excellent low save to his right, leaving Wrexham with a one-goal lead at half-time.

The Red Dragons began the second half on the front foot, with Doyle surging into the area and drawing another save from Trott. The Cardiff goalkeeper was called upon again shortly afterwards when Moore’s clever movement created a shooting chance for Nathan Broadhead.

Dom Hyam went into the referee’s book in the 54th minute, giving Perry Ng a dangerous free-kick opportunity, but his effort struck the wall. At the other end, Doyle went close once more when his powerful shot crashed against the post and went behind for a goal kick.

On the hour mark, Brian Barry-Murphy turned to his bench and sent on academy products Joel Colwill and Rubin Colwill in place of Willock and Ollie Tanner. Wrexham made their first substitution soon after, with Ben Whiteman replacing Oliver Rathbone.

With 20 minutes remaining, Moylan tried to bring Cardiff level, cutting in from the left side of the box and forcing Patterson into a save. Wrexham then made further changes, as Davis Keillor-Dunn, Ryan Longman, George Dobson and Smith came on for Moore, Imray, Matty James and Broadhead.

Cardiff responded with a triple substitution as the final 10 minutes approached in the Welsh capital, with Callum Robinson, Kpakio and Davies replacing Ashford, Alex Robertson and Scanlon. Smith looked to put the game beyond doubt after coming on, but Trott was alert again to keep Cardiff in the contest.

After six minutes of added time were signalled, Smith threatened again, this time lifting the ball over Trott and just wide of the far post. Cardiff then came desperately close to an equaliser in the 94th minute, when a deep cross found Hyam, whose header struck his own crossbar and prevented the ball from reaching the far post in a remarkable defensive moment.

There was still more late drama to come, though, as referee Andrew Kitchen awarded a foul only inches outside the Wrexham penalty area. Almost everyone inside the stadium believed he had pointed to the spot, but it was a free-kick. Colwill took responsibility and found the top corner, sparking wild celebrations inside Cardiff City Stadium and earning a point for the Bluebirds.