Five-star Dragons move up to second with dazzling display

A SCINTILLATING first-half display set Wrexham on their way to a stunning victory over fellow National League title challengers Salford City.

The bumper 8,000-plus crowd at the Racecourse were treated to a Boxing Day feast as goals from skipper Shaun Pearson, Akil Wright and Brad Walker all but put the Dragons out of sight by the break.

Ben Tollitt, on his debut, and Chris Holroyd added further goals in the closing stages.

It sent big-spending Salford crashing to a third straight league defeat while Graham Barrow’s side move up to second as a result and are three points back on Leyton Orient – who themselves went down 2-1 having led at Dagenham & Redbridge.

It was a lightning-fast start from the Dragons as they took the lead in the third minute.

It came after Wright had a shot deflected away and, from the resulting corner taken by Luke Summerfield, Pearson got up at the back post to head home past Chris Neal to give his side a dream start.

It was a frenetic pace. Bobby Grant sent an effort just wide while, at the other end, Matthew Green went close for Salford after picking Pearson’s pocket, but his effort was also just wide of the mark.

Paul Rutherford tried his luck with a dipping effort from long range midway through the first half that was heading towards the top corner, but Neal was equal to it.

Wrexham, though, did double their lead on 24 minutes with Summerfield once again the provider, sending over a cross from the right which was met by Wright, who planted a header across the keeper for 2-0.

Mark Carrington was then inches away with an audacious effort from 30 yards, lifting the ball over Neal after spotting Salford’s stopper off his line while, seconds later, Grant’s bicycle kick was blocked by Ibou Touray.

The hosts were really turning on the style and they rounded off a superb first half with goal number three on the stroke of half-time, scored by Walker, who was given time and space before he smashed home from the edge of the box.

With the job all but done, Wrexham held firm after the break as Salford were unable to find a goal to get themselves back into the game.

Tollitt riffled home a fourth on 86 minutes before Salford’s Tom Walker was given his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Holroyd put the icing on the cake with a fifth Wrexham goal in added time before Dan Whitehead pulled one back for the visitors.