Wrexham got off to a disappointing start after going down to a revitalised Darlington side on Teeside, with the hosts scoring their second goal when down to 10-men, following the dismissal of their keeper with over

It was a case of what might have been for the travelling Welshmen, as they were left ruing wasted chances from a promising display against the Quakers.

The Reds themselves had to play a man short for several minutes early in the match, when Shaun Pejic took a knock to the mouth and required attention on the sidelines as the blood flowed.

Wrexham should have taken the lead on 10 minutes when Roberts headed on Anthony Williams' long clearance and as the home fans chuckled thinking the ball was going out of play, Chris Llewellyn raced to the goal line and sent in a cross that flew in front of the unguarded home nets with Michael Proctor a yard short of making contact.

Wrexham's attacking intentions were certainly coming to the fore, silencing the home crowd, who, as usual where lost the acres of empty seats at a venue that would certainly not be out of place in the Championship.

The first yellow card was served after just 18 minutes, when Ryan Valentine, laying against his former club, arrived late on the scene to dispose Julian Joachim, leaving the ex-Boston United man face down in the grass.

By the way, amongst their expenditures this summer, the Quakers have invested just short of £200,000 on ripping up their relatively new pitch at the Arena and replacing it, to a depth of over six inches.

More Wrexham pressure on 22 minutes saw the ball come out to Mark Jones, who fired his effort at goal, with Eifion Williams then deflecting the shot, but only straight into Andy Oakes' hands.

A scare for the Reds on 28 minutes, when Chris Palmer's cross in from the Darlington left wing was played behind the Wrexham back line and with Valentine facing his own net, the defender managed to flick the ball away and off Tommy Wright to even avoided conceding the corner.

On the half hour, Danny Williams joined Valentine in the referee's notebook after giving away a free kick on the halfway line.

A Darlo corner on 35 minutes was headed back to the edge of the Wrexham box where Joachim's shot was blocked by Danny Williams and the follow up effort was also stopped by the same payer, with the home fans claiming a penalty - but to no effect.

With five minutes of the half left, a corner from the right was headed down by Steve Foster for Ian Miller to get in a shot, but it was straight in the grateful arms of Anthony Williams in the Wrexham goal.

The breakthrough came on 42 minutes when Abbott's good work to shield the ball led to him crossing deep and in drifted Ian Miller, unmarked, to head home passed an exposed Williams.

Wrexham fans were out of their seats a minute later, when Eifion Williams was looking good to get a free header at a Llewellyn cross, but appeared to be shoved in the back by Tim Ryan on the edge of the home six-yard box.

The visitors did push forward on the home defence for the last few minutes of the half, gaining a couple of corners, but still not forcing a save out of Oakes.

The second half was only seconds old when Quakers' forward Wright had his name taken for a high arm on Richard Hope.

Straightaway afterwards, Valentine crossed in deep for Proctor, but his header dropped just over Oakes' crossbar and ran down the net, leading to several fans thinking the ball has ended up in the goal.

The game was coming to life with an offside effort from Abbott lifting the noise levels from the 4,000 crowd.

Drama followed on 63 minutes as Andy Oakes earned himself a red card for bringing down Michael Proctor as the striker raced clear and pushed the ball wide of the advancing keeper.

Amidst much turmoil on the pitch, referee Evans finally sent off Oakes, but it took several minutes before we learnt that he was going to award a free kick on the edge of the Darlington box.

When play finally restarted on 67 minutes, Proctor's free kick curled round the six-man wall and forced sub keeper David Stockdale into a flying save, as he tipped the ball round his right hand post.

Darlington nearly added a second goal on 70 minutes when Wright headed the ball back for Foster to lash out and stab the ball over the Wrexham crossbar.

They did grab another goal on 72 minutes when Julian Joachim raced through the middle and fired a rising shot that flew passed Williams.

Llewellyn came close to reducing the arrears on 77 minutes when his cross bounced over Stockdale's outstretched arm, but also beat the far post.

Brian Carey sent on both Matty Done and Levi Mackin to liven up his side, with both Eifion Williams and Mark Jones making way.

A Llewellyn free kick, with 10 minutes left, should have produced a goal for Wrexham as Shaun Pejic rose to meet the ball only for the centre back to head back across the face of the goal when it looked easier to score.

He almost made amends two minutes later when he met Done's corner, only for Stockdale to produce his second spectacular save and force the ball behind for a second corner.

A final throw of the dice saw Marc Williams introduce for captain Neil Roberts, but it should have seen at least one goal recovered. With the fourth official indicating an additional five minutes, Proctor raced away on the right, closing in on the keeper before deciding to square the ball for Williams, but only hitting the nearest covering defender.

Proctor was then left holding his head as the striker got on the end of a Hope knock down, but from six-yards could only direct his header at Stockdale.

The near 700 Wrexham fans gave their heroes a rousing send off at the final whistle, but there was disappointment all round as they headed home back down the A1.

Darlington: Andy Oakes, Neil Austin, Tim Ryan, Steve Foster, Ian Miller, Pawel Abbott (Rob Purdie 67), Julian Joachim, Ricky Ravenhill, Kevin McBride, Tommy Wright (Gregg Blundell 78), Chris Palmer (David Stockdale 66).
Sub: Alan White, Gregg Blundell, Ian Harty.

Wrexham: Anthony Williams, Simon Spender, Ryan Valentine, Shaun Pejic, Richard Hope, Mark Jones (Levi Mackin 76), Danny Williams, Neil Roberts (Marc Williams 84), Michael Proctor, Chris Llewellyn, Eifion Williams (Matty Done 71).
Subs: Michael Jones, Mike Williams.

Referee: KG Evans (Manchester)
Attendance: 4,408
Away: 678

Sending Off -
Darlington: Oakes (63, foul)

Booking -
Darlington: Wright (46, foul), McBride (86, foul)
Wrexham: Valentine (18, foul), D. Williams (30, foul), Pejic (69, foul)