Manager Denis Smith will have every reason to bemoan this latest reverse, as his side out gunned Notts County 19 efforts to their hosts eight, but it's goals that count and on that score we failed to take advantage of our chances, despite another strike from the returning Chris Llewellyn.
Straight from the start Josh Johnson worked himself into a good position on the left wing, driving into the box at an angle, but with Maheta Molango free in the centre, he fired in an rising shot that keeper Kevin Pilkington held in a crowded six-yard box.
County hit back immediately with a cross that Jason Lee was only inches away from heading into an empty net, before Lee Roche attempted an under hit back pass which Michael Ingham dealt with well.
On eight minutes a cross to the near post was meant for Junior Mendes, but Roche came across well to block the ball. As it spun up off his boot and struck his arm - the inevitable shouts came from the home fans but they were ignored by referee Ray Lee, as there was no intention on the defender's part.
As the play swung from end-to-end in a highly entertaining start, Mark Jones unleashed a 30-yard effort that was always going over, but not by much, and then Mendes saw an opening on the run, firing in from the edge of the box and forcing Ingham into full length diving save.
Molango then broke down the right wing on 18 minutes, crossing in for Chris Llewellyn to flick a header on to Johnson, but the Trinidadian failed to take a god touch and pulled his shot wide of the target from 15-yards.
The frantic pace had to ease a little, but Wrexham were more than holding their own.
Good work by Johnson on 33 minutes saw him beat two men to get to the box, but Pilkington raced from his line and the winger pushed the ball forward a little to firmly, allowing the keeper to smother the danger.
On the break Notts caught out the Wrexham defence after 37 minutes, as Mendes ran across the pitch slipping a pass through for the speeding Andy Parkinson. Roche stood with his hand in the air claiming offside, but the former Tranmere Rovers man kept going and fired over the stranded Ingham to open the scoring.
Parkinson's goal - his first at Meadow Lane and only his third in County colours - has seen him net twice against Wrexham.
There was a yellow card for the Dragons' right back Roche on 40 minutes, when pulled back Parkinson as the winger went passed him again.
Johnson raced in behind the home defence in 44 minutes, heading a bouncing ball wide of Pilkington, but once again it was touched to hard and by the time he had recovered the situation black shirts had swarmed back to cover.
In the last minute, good work on the right saw the ball played back into Danny Williams' path, but his effort from distance sailed over the crossbar and into the Wrexham fans high in the stand at that end of the ground.
Second Half
Jason Lee was warned and then booked for two offences in the first five minutes of the second period, giving Wrexham a free kick on the edge of the home box, which Llewellyn hammered in to the wall before Jones flashed the rebound passed the far post.
A 57th minute slip by Roche, allowed Mendes to collect the ball near the left hand corner flag before firing in a low shot that Ingham blocked well with his legs to deny the Magpie striker.
Wrexham make their first substitution of the afternoon with Kevin Smith replacing Molango on the hour.
Another mistake in the visitors' defence saw Pike charge down Evans' clearance and race upfield, spotting Jason Lee free on his left he picked him out and the former Forest striker slide the ball home across Ingham on 60 minutes.
Chris Llewellyn grabbed his third goal in three games to drag Wrexham back into contention on 65 minutes, as he headed home from eight yards after Johnson beat two men before sending over a perfect cross that was just inviting the header.
A minute alter full back Austin McCann cleared Steve Evans header off the line following a corner and then from the following flag kick Mark Jones watched on as his goalbound effort was palmed away by Pilkington.
County boss Steve Thompson responded by taking off right back Gleeson, as Johnson was getting the better of him, dropping Pipe back from midfield to cover the Wrexham winger and on came new loan signing Daryl McMahon.
The home side continued to break Wrexham's flow with a series of fouls, substitutions and prolonged injuries!
A last minute corner, with Ingham waved forward, saw Evans rise and thump a powerful header agonisingly wide.
A much improved performance that deserved at least a draw and in all reality we should have won at a canter - it won't come as a surprise to any Wrexham follower that it was in front of goal that we lost out!
Notts County: Kevin Pilkington, Austin McCann, Mike Edwards, Alan White, Dan Gleeson (Daryl McMahon 68), Andy Parkinson, Ian Ross (Jay Smith 76), Matt Somner, David Pipe, Junior Mendes (Lawrie Dudfield 87), Jason Lee.
Subs: Saul Deeney, Dan Martin.
Wrexham: Michael Ingham, Lee Roche, Shaun Pejic, Mike Williams, Mark Jones, Danny Williams, Darren Ferguson, Josh Johnson, Chris Llewellyn, Maheta Molango (Kevin Smith 60).
Subs: Michael Jones, Simon Spender, Gareth Evans, Levi Mackin.
Referee: Ray Lee (Essex)
Attendance: 4,416
Away: 292
Bookings -
Notts County: Lee (50, foul), Somner (84, foul)
Wrexham: Roche (40, foul), Pejic (88, foul)
| STAT ATTACK | ||
| 6 |
Shots On Target |
9 |
| 2 |
Shots Off Target |
10 |
| 20 |
Fouls (Conceded) |
15 |
| 1 |
Corners |
8 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| REFEREE: R Lee | ||
