Firstly leaders MK Dons and now second placed Darlington were sent home pointless as the Wrexham revival continued with goals from Steve Evans and Michael Proctor giving the Red Dragons an excellent three points.

With Wrexham on a run of three games unbeaten Brian Little made three defensive changes from the side that drew at Morecambe. Richard Hope was suspended and with Carl Tremarco injured Mike Williams and Neil Taylor returned to the starting line up, Phil Bolland swapped places with Shaun Pejic who was on the bench.

On a cold but sunny day in North Wales Wrexham kicked off attacking the ERS end of The Racecourse and Stockdale in the visitor's goal saw some early action collecting the ball at Nicholson's feet in the first minute. Phil Bolland did well on three minutes blocking a shot from Kevin Gall as Darlington pushed forward.

Both sides made a bright opening looking to attack when the opportunity arose and Nicholson and Broughton were combining well as Wrexham gained some early territorial advantage. Stuart Nicholson did well to set up Neil Roberts with 10 minutes gone, and when the Red Dragons skipper mishit his shot the young striker on loan from West Brom was there to test Stockdale with a reaction shot from 12 yards.

With 13 minutes gone Gavin Ward made a good save low down to his left after some excellent work by Steve Foster, the Darlington skipper and centre back. Two minutes later Steve Evans was caught in two minds dealing with an awkward high ball, Wright beat him to it and Gall put an effort just over the bar with Ward stranded off his line.

On 20 minutes Wrexham won a corner, taken by Danny Sonner it was met by Steve Evans eight yards out and he powered his header past David Stockdale to give Wrexham the lead.

The visitors bounced back and had a good spell of pressure which Wrexham defended well. The Reds weathered the storm and Steve Evans headed wide of the Darlington goal from a driven Simon Spender cross. The game was end to end as both sides pushed forward when they could.

With 28 minutes on the clock Sonner swung a free kick over from near the dug out and Stuart Nicholson was just wide with a header from an excellent position. Four minutes later the influential Danny Sonner put over another good cross and this time Drewe Broughton put his header over the bar. Shortly after Drewe Broughton broke clear down the left but with Nicholson well placed in the box, the big striker was tackled and a good opportunity was lost.

Darlington were looking dangerous on the break and Wrexham were nearly caught out when a mix up between Evans and Ward almost allowed Wright in but fortunately they rescued the situation and scrambled it away.

The battling Drewe Broughton won a free kick around twenty five yards out on 42 minutes and Chris Llewellyn put a good effort just over the bar. The referee blew his whistle after the two added minutes with Wrexham one goal ahead.

Second Half

Darlington put Ian Miller on at the start of the second half, replacing Steve Foster. The visitors kicked off and won an early corner which came to nothing. It was Darlington who had the early territorial advantage and Ward had to down sharply to gather a low hard cross into his box.

Wrexham had struggled to get the ball out of their own half in the first 7 minutes of the second half but on 52 minutes Nicholson fired high and wide. Neil Roberts went down from a bad challenge by Ravenhill who was booked. Mickey Cummins joined him on 56 minutes for a crude lunge at Danny Sonner.

Dave Penney put on two substitutes on 58 minutes with Blundell replacing Mayo and Keltie replacing Ravenhill as he looked to change the game. They went close on 63 minutes but some good defending by Evans resulted in a corner. Keltie's corner was half punched clear by Ward but it went straight to Gall who volleyed into the side netting from close range. Keltie was struggling with a knee injury and was virtually a passenger, he was of course one of the three substitutes already used by Darlington so couldn't come off.

Wrexham were denied two penalty shouts inside a minute when first Spender and then Broughton were pushed in the box, but referee Cook waived play on both times.

Drewe Broughton fired over on 73 minutes after some good work by Miller had denied Neil Taylor a run into the area. The game was still end to end but a little scrappy and as we went into the last quarter of an hour Michael Proctor replaced Stuart Nicholson. Proctor went close with a header two minutes later after a cross by Llewellyn.

Darlington were leaving gaps as they pressed for an equaliser but the Wrexham forwards just couldn't spring the offside trap. Proctor had an effort on 80 minutes but it was an easy save for Stockdale. Darlington almost equalised a minute later, Neil Taylor making a good block with Ward on the floor. Sonner then went down in the area but the referee again waived play on.

The game had lost shape now as Darlington threw everything forward, they were awarded a soft free kick on 84 minutes but Ward held it easily.

Brian Little brought Jeff Whitley on with 6 minutes replacing the excellent but tiring Danny Sonner and immediately Michael Proctor did beat the offside trap when hebroke clear and calmly slotted the ball passed Stockdale to send The Racecourse wild. The final Wrexham change saw Rob Duffy come on for Drewe Broughton to make his home debut on loan from Oxford.

There were four added minutes to end the match, but Wrexham were not troubled and left the field to a standing ovation.

Wrexham (3-5-2): Gavin Ward, Simon Spender, Steve Evans, Phil Bolland, Mike Williams, Neil Taylor, Chris Llewellyn, Neil Roberts, Danny Sonner (Jeff Whitley 84), Drewe Broughton (Rob Duffy 88), Stuart Nicholson (Michael Proctor 75).
Subs: Shaun Pejic, Sam Aiston.

Darlington (4-4-2): David Stockdale, Neil Austin, Stephen Foster (Ian Miller 46), Alan White, Ryan Valentine, Julian Joachim, Mickey Cummins, Ricky Ravenhill (Clark Keltie 58) Paul Mayo (Greg Blundell 58), Tommy Wright, Kevin Gall.
Subs: Rob Purdie, Przemyslaw Kazimierczak.

Referee: Steven Cook
Attendance: 4,013
Away: 204

Bookings -
Darlington: Ricky Ravenhill (foul), Mickey Cummins (foul)