Goals from Ollie Palmer, Will Boyle and Elliot Lee fired Wrexham AFC to an impressive 3-0 win over Grimsby Town at the STōK Cae Ras to move up into fourth place in the Sky Bet League Two table.

Phil Parkinson elected to make two changes to the 11 who played against Doncaster Rovers, with Paul Mullin making his first start of the season and James McClean having returned from international duty.

Wrexham started the game strongly in front of the home crowd at the STōK Cae Ras and registered their first shot of the fixture after just three minutes through Ryan Barnett.

The tricky wing-back burst up the pitch with a determined run, weaving past the visiting backline with ease before getting the ball out of his right foot with a low strike which was saved by Grimsby ‘keeper Jake Eastwood.

Despite that, it didn’t take too long for the hosts to assert their dominance on the fixture, with the return of star man Mullin providing a useful asset to Wrexham at the top end of the pitch.

Parkinson’s side deservedly broke the deadlock in the 21^st minute, as Ollie Palmer scored his second league goal of the season to the delight of many in North Wales.

Luke Young collected a loose ball on the left by-line, shifted it through to Elliot Lee and Wrexham’s number 38 then unleashed a sublime pin-point lofted delivery over the Mariners’ backline, directly into the path of Palmer.

The forward made no mistake from close-range, generating a powerful header which left Eastwood easily beaten at the far post.

Ten minutes later, Wrexham doubled their advantage with their early efforts being fully rewarded.

Another loose ball shifted towards the left side of the pitch following a Wrexham corner, with an oncoming James McClean dispossessing his opposite number at speed and then producing a touch of class to find Will Boyle with a pin-point cross from his left boot.

Boyle rose highest in the air, as he has done so often this season, generating a powerful header which left Eastwood with no chance as it nestled into the top-right corner.

Mullin continued to strike fear into the travelling backline, and Wrexham’s number ten was more than deserving of a goal, with the forward coming close to registering his first goal of the season on several occasions.

His final effort of the half came a minute into stoppage time, but Mullin’s strike hit the side netting as Wrexham went into the break with a two-goal lead.

The striker continued the second half with the same determination and fire to get his first goal since his pre-season injury, firing just wide with 54 minutes played.

Parkinson’s side suffered a blow just after the hour mark, as Palmer was forced off through injury following an awkward tackle from a Grimsby defender in their box.

Sam Dalby replaced the forward, and he almost made it a perfect cameo just minutes after stepping onto the pitch.

Lee found Dalby with a great through ball to play the striker through and he managed to force Eastwood into a fantastic save with his feet in the 67^th minute to keep the score line at 2-0.

Eventually, the attacking duo of Lee and Dalby linked-up for Wrexham’s third goal of the afternoon, however, putting the game out of sight with 79 minutes gone.

Picking the ball up from the right, Dalby produced a smart cut-back across goal, finding Lee at the back post as Wrexham’s top goal scorer this season latched onto the ball, sliding across the box to fire home on his right foot for his seventh goal of the season.

The victory was almost rounded up with a final goal, as Steven Fletcher saw an audacious overhead kick from close-range saved by Eastwood. The ball fell to the feet of Hayden, but the defender’s effort was always rising and ended up drifting over the bar in the 83^rd minute.

Wrexham AFC: Howard (GK), Hayden (Jones 88’), Tozer, Boyle, Barnett, Young (C), O’Connor (Evans 73’), Lee (Davies 88’), McClean, Palmer (Dalby 64’), Mullin (Fletcher 73’).

Subs not used: Okonkwo (GK), Mendy.

Grimsby Town: Eastwood (GK), Mullarkey (Efete 84’), Rodgers, Waterfall (C) (Khan 46’), Maher, Amos, Holohan (Ainley 72’), Clifton, Conteh, Pyke, Gnahoua (Andrews 84’).  

Subs not used: Cartwright (GK), Glennon, Gardner.

Attendance: 10,116 (1025 away).