DRAGONS’ FIRE TAKES THEM TOP

WREXHAM are the new National League leaders as they hunt a return to the Football League for the first time since 2008.

They beat Gateshead 3-1, with a Paul Rutherford cross turned in off Fraser Kerr’s heel followed by goals from Brad Walker and Rekeil Pyke.

Boss Sam Ricketts (above, with Rutherford) said: “I’m delighted with the performance. I thought we were excellent, right from the very start of the game to the very end.

“How we managed it, how we passed it, how we composed our structure to be hard to break down from certain situations.

“It was one of our best performances. There were times when we moved the ball as well as we have done this year.”

But Ricketts warned it does not matter that the Dragons are top at this stage, and wants more from his men.

He said: “It is important to be top, but I’ve said in the dressing room I’m more concerned about where we are after 46 games, not 19. We have to get better but this was a step in the right direction.”

Leyton Orient are second in the table, a point behind after they won 3-1 at AFC Fylde, with Josh Koroma scoring twice and Macauley Bonne getting the other to become the league’s leading scorer with 13.

Boss Justin Edinburgh said: “The chances that came along were dispatched clinically.

“It was a huge win, a very good performance and a massive three points for us against a team that will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“It was a fantastic team performance and a result that we deserved.”

Salford dropped to third place, knocked off the top, after they were held 1-1 at Eastleigh.

They needed a late Lois Maynard equaliser to salvage a point but their unbeaten run now stretches to 16 matches.