MORE for Dean Saunders to contemplate as his side gave up their early lead from Gareth Taylor to slip to defeat at newly promoted Tamworth.

A ball over the top almost caught out the Wrexham defence on six minutes, as Jake Sheridan got goal side of Ashley Westwood, but he couldn't control his shot when well placed.

Down at the other end and a flick on by Gareth Taylor set Adrian Cieslewicz away, but his 20-yard run ended with a shot that was dragged wide of the advancing Tamworth keeper Danny Alcock.

The Lambs showed their teeth again on 13 minutes, when Nick Wright escaped down the left wing and his cross was aimed at Alex Rodman, who did get to the ball first at the near post, but a combination of Mike Williams and Chris Maxwell denied him.

There were loud appeals for a corner from the large travelling support, when Cieslewicz's driven cross came off the arm of a defender, not that referee Martin was impressed, although he did award a corner instead on 20 minutes.

It took a lovely sweeping move by the visitors that saw them take the lead on 26 minutes, ending a run of five scoreless away games and a total of 492 minutes since Nathan Fairhurst netted at Northwich back in mid March!

Westwood started it from the back, finding Mike Williams on the left, who advanced over the halfway line before feeding inside for Mark Jones. The midfielder waited for his moment and slipped a defence splitting pass that released Gareth Taylor into the home box and the veteran striker calmly fired home for his fourth strike of the season.

A second penalty appeal went a begging on 31 minutes, when Cieslewicz used his pace to devastating effect, surging some 50 yards before being brought down from behind - but the official was adamant that the ball had been played first!

A number of strong challenges ensued as both teams dug in, but at the end of it only Wrexham's Obeng who found his way in the referee's book.

Rodman found Dragons' keeper Maxwell in good form to deny him, after he had forced his way into the Wrexham box with a good run.

From the resulting corner, the ball was delivered to the back post and Lambs' defender Chris Smith rose unchallenged to hammer his header home passed the exposed Maxwell on 37 minutes.

All credit to Tamworth for some great team spirit in the opening half, which had previously been praised by their manager Gary Mills and was again very evident tonight.

The next booking saw Mike Williams yellow carded for bringing down his man from behind on 56 minutes, as the home side lifted the pace in the early stages of the second period.

Just before Silvio hammered in a 30-yard free kick, that only cleared the home cross bar by a few feet, Neil Taylor had been sent on to replace Mike Williams.

A moment of panic for the Wrexham defence on 71 minutes, as winger Nick Wright sent over a low cross from the right and it managed to evade five different players as it made its way through the visitors' penalty box.

Seconds later an awful series of mistakes lead to Jake Sheridan shaking off Westwood's attentions and finding himself free inside the Wrexham area, before firing passed Maxwell. All this with Marc Williams stripped off and ready to come on in search of a winner!

The U21 international did appear at a corner on 75 minutes, when no one picked him up but from six-yards his header sailed over the target, when it really should have been the equaliser.

In a final throw of the dice to salvage something from the evening, Wes Baynes was sent on for Obeng.

Then Marc was denied again on 84 minutes, when keeper Alcock produced a great save from the Welshmen's close range effort.

Wrexham's frustrations were on show again as Neil Taylor became our fifth booking of the night.

Three minutes of added time weren't enough to save the day.

Tamworth: Danny Alcock, Richard Tait, Michael Blackwood, Chris Smith, Neil McKenzie, Nick Wright (Des Lyttle 90), Alex Rodman, Bradley Pritchard, Jack Sheridan, Tom Shaw, Michael Bristow.
Sub: Gavin Hurren, Stuart Nicholson, Seb Lake-Gaskin, Trevor Benjamin.

Wrexham: Chris Maxwell, Curtis Obeng (Wes Baynes 82), Ashley Westwood, Mani, Mike Williams (Neil Taylor 60), Adrian Cieslewicz, Andy Fleming, Christian Smith (Marc Williams 75), Mark Jones, Gareth Taylor, Silvio Spann.
Subs: Frank Sinclair, Nathan Fairhurst.

Referee: SJ Martin
Attendance: 1,290
Away: 581

Booking -
Tamworth: Rodman (82, time wasting)
Wrexham: Obeng (33, foul), Mike Williams (56, foul), Cieslewicz (73, dissent), Assoumani (77, foul), N Taylor (89, foul).