A superb Wes Baynes strike gave Wrexham a win in their first pre-season friendly, on an afternoon that saw 22 Reds players performing well and some encouraging signs from all of Brian Little's new signings.

For the first official outing of the season, against Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham boss Brian Little fielded two different sides, one in each half.

On a dry but cool July day at the immaculate looking Racecourse Wrexham kicked off attacking the ERS end of the ground. With Wolves playing in all black and Wrexham in light blue, neither side were in their traditional colours.

After an early spell of Wolves possession Sam Aiston burst clear with two minutes gone, but after a 40-yard run his pass failed to find Jefferson Louis. Interestingly Gareth Evans was in a new defensive midfield role just in front of the back four.

With four minutes gone another good run by Aiston set up Louis, whose effort caused Hennessy a moment of concern. Simon Spender won the game's first corner on five minutes, taken by Spann it was cleared easily by Wolves.

With nine minutes gone a good piece of work by Andy Keogh set up Stephen Ward who headed over from close range. Both sides were struggling to get any sort of rhythm in their first serious action of the season but with 16 minutes gone a good piece of skill by Proctor earned Wrexham a corner. Spann's corner was cleared to Tom Kearney on the edge of the area and he fired a fierce left foot effort over the bar.

Wrexham were getting on top territorially as the game approached the twenty minute mark and Mike Williams had a shot blocked on the edge of the area from a Spann free kick. Three minutes later some good work by Proctor set up Sam Aiston who fired just wide from 20 yards. Jefferson Louis received some treatment off Mel Pejic but quickly returned to the action.

Wolves first corner came on 27 minutes after Kearney let the ball run out , Wrexham defended it well however and the danger passed. Welsh international Dave Edwards fired well wide from twenty five yards. Gavin Ward did well under pressure to punch clear a Kightly cross as the visitors had their best spell of the game.

Tom Kearney was beginning to stamp his authority in midfield with one or two nice touches and some good runs both in support of the strikers and also tracking Dave Edwards' runs for Wolves.

Nat Brown and Jefferson Louis also looked promising in their first appearances at the Racecourse. Wrexham were awarded a free kick on 38 minutes and from 20 yards Silvio Spann fired just wide of the Wolves goal.

Wrexham won another corner on 40 minutes when Gareth Evans header from Spann's cross was deflected. Spann again took the corner it was cleared back to him and although Hennessy dropped the ball under pressure from Nat Brown but the referee penalised the Reds defender. Michael Proctor headed over a minute later from a Spender cross as Wrexham looked to win the first half match.

Andy Keogh had a good chance in the last minute of the half but he did not really strike the ball cleanly and Gavin Ward fell on it and the referee signalled the end of the first half.

Simon Spender jumps with Stephen Ward

Second Half

Both sides fielded a completely different side in the second half and this time Wolves kicked off attacking the ERS end where their supporters were housed. Some good skill by Neil Taylor won a free kick on 47 minutes, Baynes swung it in and Steve Evans stretching just couldn't turn it back across goal.

On 48 minutes Wes Baynes struck a brilliant thirty yard free kick high into the roof of the net with Carl Ikeme clutching at fresh air. Wolves responded with a David Jones shot held by Anthony Williams and then the Wrexham keeper did well to claim a Michael Gray corner under pressure

Marc Williams forced a sharp save from Ikeme on 53 minutes in a lively opening to the second half. Wolves bounced back with a corner and free kick and Anthony Williams had to push away a difficult swirling cross under pressure.

A good break by Kyle Critchell on 61 minutes saw him play a good ball into the area after a thirty yard run; Marc Williams tried to control and turn at the same time and the ball ran to Ikeme. Critchell then showed his defensive qualities in chasing back and dispossessing Elokobi near the corner flag.

Simon Brown picked up the ball on 65 minutes, after an error by Collins in the centre of the Wolves defence; his shot was easily saved by Ikeme though. Brown then forced a corner with his pace but Taylor's cross was too long and ran to safety.

Two minutes later Simon Brown beat the Wolves offside, the ball ran to Marc Williams who moved into the area but delayed pulling the trigger, the ball ran to Neil Taylor who pulled his shot badly and the visitors cleared the danger.

Wolves pressed forward looking for the equaliser but Wrexham defended well and closed down their more illustrious opponents giving them little in the way of goal scoring opportunities.

The Wolves fans cheered ironically when Matt Jarvis actually got an effort on goal with 12 minutes left, it was an easy save for Anthony Williams though. A better effort a minute later was hit with more power by Jarvis but again it was straight at Williams.

Wrexham kept plugging away and Brown tried to put Marc Williams through but put his pass just too far ahead of his striking partner and ran out for a goal kick. Stephen Elliott headed just wide from a Michael Gray cross with three minutes left as their disgruntled fans started to leave the ground.

Marc Williams put a good right foot shot on target as we went into the last minute but Ikeme saved and then should have done better when he failed to control a Brown cross but it didn't matter in the end as the referee signalled the end of a very satisfactory work out for Brian Little's men

First Half Teams

Wrexham (4-4-2): Gavin Ward, Simon Spender, Nat Brown, Mike Williams, Carl Tremarco, Silvio Spann, Tom Kearney, Gareth Evans, Sam Aiston, Michael Proctor, Jefferson Louis.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): Wayne Hennessy, Kevin Foley, Darren Ward, Richard Stearman, Rob Edwards, Michael Kightly, Valentino Sheilis, Dave Edwards, Stephen Ward, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Andy Keogh.

Second Half Teams

Wrexham (4-4-2): Anthony Williams, Kyle Critchell, Shaun Pejic, Steve Evans, Chris Marriott, Wes Baynes, Andy Fleming, Levi Mackin, Neil Taylor, Marc Williams, Simon Brown.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: (4-4-2): Carl Ikeme, Mark Little, Jody Craddock, Neil Collins, George Elokobi, Michael Gray, David Jones, Mark Davies, Matt Jarvis, Stephen Elliott, Liam Hughes.

Referee: Steve Cummins (Cheshire)
Attendance: 2,749
Away: 660

Mike Williams holds off Andy Keogh