Charlie Goldsmith scored a late consolation for Preston North End reserves as Wrexham came out 3-1 winners in the Central League.
Harry Ashfield gave the visitors the lead in the 26th minute and Callum Edwards scored twice to put his side in a great position.
North End did have something to cheer about late in the day as Goldsmith found the net in the 87th minute, but it wasn’t to make a difference to the outcome.
There weren’t many chances for North End in the first half, but they may have taken the lead inside four minutes if Jonny Brindle had managed to get on the end of Ethan Eccleston’s wicked cross from the right.
Theo Mawene then looked as though he’d found the bottom corner with a superb 25-yard effort, however it landed just wide.
Just a minute later, PNE went behind and in controversial circumstances. Despite what looked like an offside which the linesman flagged for, play continued and the ball fell for Ashfield, who found the bottom corner.
Wrexham doubled their lead within three minutes as miscommunication between Cole McGhee and Tommy Davis left the door open for Edwards to head home.
It could have been three before the break, but Ashfield’s effort from the edge of the area bounced back out off the post.
PNE had the first chance of the second half as Mawene found substitute Troy Tarry with a clever floated ball and he cushioned it down to Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile, whose effort was blocked at close quarters.
The visitors extended their advantage just short of the hour mark as a good team move ended wide with Edwards, who slammed low across goal and into the far corner.
Midway through the half, Tom Wilkinson hooked Mawene’s corner back towards goal where Luke McNicholas made the save, and the ‘keeper was then relieved soon after to see Rodriguez-Gentile’s cross just evade Theo Carroll.
There was nothing McNicholas could do to prevent Goldsmith getting a consolation for the Lilywhites three minutes from time, as the striker slotted under the ‘keeper after being played through by Mawene.
Rodriguez-Gentile had an effort saved within the next minute, and the visitors navigated the final stages to ensure they left with three points.
PNE line-up: Davis; Critchley (Gairns, 83), Wilkinson, McGhee; Eccleston (Tarry, 45), Stringfellow (Carroll, 45), Kamara (Goldsmith, 74), Brindle (Garrigan, 45); Wilson, T.Mawene; Rodriguez-Gentile.
