Wrexham started their Blue Square Premiership campaign in an action packed game with five goals and two sendings off as one of the pre season favourites Stevenage Borough were sent back home with their tails between their legs having been thrashed 5-0, four of the goals coming from manager Brian Little's new signings.

As Wrexham made their first non league appearance after 87 years as a football league club manager Brian Little gave debuts to no fewer than six of his summer signings.

The new look defence featured Darran Kempson and Nat Brown, new skipper Tom Kearney with Simon Brown in midfield and the strike force of Jeff Louis and Shaun Whalley were looking to repeat their partnership of last Saturday which got The Red Dragons four goals.

After a minute's silence in respect of ex Grays Athletic player Ernie Cooksey Wrexham kicked off attacking the ERS end on a damp afternoon at The Racecourse.

There was an air of expectancy as always before the first game of a new season as Brian Little and his players looked to get Wrexham back into the Football League at the first time of asking.

Both sides sparred for an early opening but with Wrexham having six players making their competitive debuts and Stevenage seven it was almost inevitable that the early exchanges would be scrappy and nervous.

Stevenage won the game's first corner on five minutes but it was easily cleared. Wrexham responded with one of their own two minutes later but again it was well defended.

Neither side really stamped their authority on the first quarter of an hour with most of the play concentrated in the middle third of the pitch. Stevenage were probably the more dominant in midfield and it was in that area that Levi Mackin was given the first yellow card for a foul.

With 16 minutes gone Shaun Whalley was fouled by Albrighton who joined Mackin in the book. The free kick was 25 yards out and Tom Kearney's shot took a wicked deflection which left Ashley Bayes completely wrong footed and rolled into the Stevenage net for Wrexham's first goal of the season.

The visitors almost responded immediately and Gavin Ward had to make a fine save from Bostwick as Wrexham were slack at the back.

Darran Kempson was booked for kicking the ball away after the referee had given yet another free kick. The opening 22 minutes had certainly seen a lot of stoppages which didn't help the flow of the game. Stevenage, to their credit, responded well to going behind and pressed Wrexham back, winning a couple of corners in the process.

A good break by Carl Tremarco won Wrexham a corner on 31 minutes, taken by Aiston it was cleared by the visitors defence. Wrexham had stepped up their game and were now getting on top territorially as Jeff Louis got agonisingly close to a Simon Brown cross.

At the other end Daryl McMahon forced Ward into a diving save on 34 minutes after Mackin had been caught in possession in the midfield.

With seven minutes left to the break Simon Brown was obstructed as he tried to cut into the area, Tom Kearney's cross was met by the towering Darran Kempson on the far post but his header was just over the bar.

Carl Tremarco showed his class a minute later, giving Cole a head start and still getting in a superb tackle as the Stevenage striker looked to break clear.

Stevenage had a couple of half chances through Drury and Morison before Drury from a suspiciously offside position crossed for Anaclet to head wide at full stretch.

There were three added minutes as Stevenage ended the half the stronger, Ward had to tip over from an Albrighton header and the visitors had a couple of quick corners. To the relief of a good size crowd Wrexham held on to their lead at the half time whistle.

Second Half

There were no changes at the break and Stevenage kicked off in the second half. Jeff Louis quickly got himself booked for persistent fouling, the referee had spoken to him several times in the first half and clearly his patience had run out. Scott Laird then fouled Simon Brown and earned himself a yellow card, two bookings in the opening two minutes of the second half.

The first serious action of the second half saw Kempson recover well to dispossess Cole as he broke clear from a Morison pass. In truth the early stages of the half had been really scrappy but Wrexham put together a nice move with 52 minutes on the clock, the final cross from Simon Brown was too long though and eluded all the Wrexham forwards.

Marc Williams finishes off this chance

Stevenage had a chance a minute later after good work by Morison but McMahon fired well wide from a good position.

A moment of concern in the Wrexham defence as Cole broke clear; Kempson recovered by knocking the ball back to Ward as Stevenage appealed for a back pass the referee waved play on. Stevenage made the first change on 57 minutes with Boylan replacing Cole in a straight swap.

With 58 minutes gone a moment of brilliance from Shaun Whalley, receiving the ball with his back to goal he turned and hit a superb dipping shot which clipped the top of the bar with Bayes beaten.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men when Steve Morison received a straight red card on 59 minutes after an aerial challenge with Darran Kempson, Graham Westley responded by replacing Drury with Thomas and changing to a 4-3-2 formation.

Thomas had a chance but his shot was poor and Ward saved easily. At the other end Whalley went close but his shot was blocked and from the resultant corner Jeff Louis headed home to give Wrexham a two goal advantage.

Gavin Ward made a good save from Thomas before Levi Mackin was given a second yellow card and was sent off. Wrexham responded well as Shaun Whalley was put clear by Sam Aiston on 71 minutes and coolly chipped Bayes to put Wrexham three up with another quality finish. It was his last contribution before being replaced by Christian Smith as Brian Little looked to close the game down.

Ashley Bayes saved well from Jeff Louis before Brian Little looked to protect Darran Kempson who was already on a yellow card by replacing him with Steve Evans. Wrexham won a corner and with 14 minutes left Smith's cross was flicked goalwards by Louis but Bayes grabbed it at the second attempt.

Steve Evans did well on 79 minutes with a good covering tackle on Lee Boylan. Stevenage had a couple of corners but Wrexham defended them well enough and looked well in control of the match.

Marc Williams came on as the final change replacing Jeff Louis up front as the lone striker and quickly won a corner with his excellent closing down. Christian Smith powered home Kearney's resultant corner from 8-yards to put Wrexham into an unassailable lead with five minutes left.

With Stevenage in total disarray Wrexham went five up a minute later when a mix up between Bayes and his defenders allowed Marc Williams to tap into the empty net and send the long suffering Wrexham fans into ecstasy with chants of "Are you Chester in disguise?"

There were three added minutes at the end of the half and Marc Williams almost got the sixth but his header went just the wrong side of the post with Bayes in no man's land. The players left the pitch to a standing ovation after a great start to the season.

Wrexham (4-4-2): Gavin Ward, Simon Spender, Darran Kempson (Steve Evans 75), Nat Brown, Carl Tremarco, Simon Brown, Tom Kearney, Levi Mackin, Sam Aiston, Shaun Whalley (Christian Smith 72), Jefferson Louis (Marc Williams 82).
Subs: Anthony Williams, Wes Baynes.

Stevenage Borough (4-4-2): Ashley Bayles, Michael Bostwick, Mark Albrighton, Ronnie Henry, Scott Laird, Eddie Anaclet, Gary Mills (Laurie Wilson 88), Daryl McMahon, Andy Drury (Anthony Thomas 61), Steve Morison, Mitchell Cole ( Lee Boylan 57).
Subs: Michael Jordan, Luke Oliver.

Referee: David Coote (Lincs)
Attendance: 4,901
Away: 198

Sent Off -
Wrexham: Levi Mackin (69, second yellow)
Stevenage: Steve Morison (60, violent conduct)

Bookings -
Wrexham: Levi Mackin (foul), Darran Kempson (dissent), Jeff Louis (foul)
Stevenage: Mark Albrighton (foul), Scott Laird (foul)