In the Central League at the STōK Cae Ras, Jack Marriott’s four-minute hat-trick spurred victory over a youthful Salford City Reserves team.
With three deft goals in the opening minutes, the 29-year-old striker set the tone for Reserve team manager Dave Jones’ highly skilled squad.
A commanding advantage was further increased by Sam Dalby’s double, and late in the second half, Jordan Tunnicliffe and Jordan Davies sealed the victory.
There were nine regular members of the first-team squad in the starting lineup, with Club Captain Ben Tozer at the heart of the defence and James McClean occupying one of the wing back positions.
The Ammies, despite the scoreline, continued to battle away throughout the 90 minutes.
Marriott scored the first goal of the match after only two minutes when he got hold of a sweeping cross by Jordan Davies and headed past an outstretched Joel Torrance. It was a fast start.
One minute later, he increased the lead and his tally with a strike that nestled into the bottom corner from 20 yards out after he switched the ball onto his right foot.
In the fourth minute, Callum McFadzean played Marriott in unmarked, and the attacker tapped the ball home to complete his hat-trick.
Mark Howard turned away Jez Davies’ goal, but the Ammies maintained their discipline and fought their way into the game despite the disadvantage.
Ruben Butt got past McClean with an opportunity to cut the Red Dragons’ lead, but he shot straight at the Wrexham keeper.
But the Reds’ expertise paid off, as Sam Dalby increased the lead just before the 20-minute mark with a rapid double.
In the first, the striker moved the ball past Torrance and into the bottom corner after creating space on the perimeter of the penalty area.
In the 19th minute, he scored his second goal when he charged into the penalty area and finished into the bottom corner after using his muscle to hold off Jacob Lara.
Moments later, Jez Davies blasted the ball past Howard to give the Ammies a response, rewarding their tenacity. Liam Humbles had earlier missed.
Marriott found the back of the net in the 47th minute as Jones’ team attempted to extend their lead, but the linesman ruled that he was offside.
City carried on where they left off in the first half, using their progressive structure to find gaps in the Wrexham defense’s lines.
They were unfortunate not to score more when Djavan Dedko got space inside the penalty area without being marked and missed the net with his header.
In the 65th minute, Jordan Tunnicliffe nodded home at the back post after Ben Tozer’s diving header reached him. This gave the Red Dragons their sixth goal.
Late in the half, Dalby had a great chance to score his hat-trick after McFadzean was pulled down inside the area, but the striker missed the post with his shot.
Jones made the decision to employ all five substitutions, giving the Academy youngsters in the lineup invaluable experience.
Jordan Davies met Harry Ashfield’s brilliant run and through pass to complete their involvement, putting the ball home to seal the game.
Howard (GK), Hayden (Dean 71′), Tozer ©, Tunnicliffe, Ashfield, O’Connor (Moore 61′), J. Wilson, McClean (Rainbird 61′), McFadzean, Dalby (Edwards 81′), Marriott (Hayman 81′) are the players for Wrexham AFC.
Jordan Davies got a yellow card (40′).
Salford City: Davies, Butt (Cucos 46′), Dedko, Lara, Collins, Humbles, Bairstow, Malcom, Ingram, Torrance (GK), and Curran-Nichlos
Replacements not used: Mundy, O’Gara, Oloude, Ramplin
