New signings Elliott Lee and Jordan Tunnicliffe both started as a Wrexham XI wrapped up pre-season preparations with a defeat away to Caernarfon.
Two second-half goals made the difference, as Wrexham used the opportunity to get minutes into the players who did not start last Saturday’s home win against Macclesfield.
Jordan Davies captained the side, while Bryce Hosannah, Harry Lennon and Liam McAlinden were also among those to start in order to clock valuable minutes ahead of next Saturday’s opening league game.
In front of a good crowd at The Oval, the game itself reflected the need for more match sharpness in the Wrexham side.
After a slow start, it was the Cofis who created the better chances and Christian Dibble had to be alert to make some sharp saves in the first half.
Caernarfon had the best chance on 35 minutes, when the ball fell kindly after a scramble in the area, but the resultant shot was just over.
Wrexham’s only real chance of the first half arrived just minutes before the interval, meanwhile, when Jordan Davies and McAlinden combined well but the latter’s shot was saved.
Former Caernarfon loanee Jake Bickerstaff replaced Tom Jenkins at the interval, in an attacking switch, and the visitors started the second-half better.
Jordan Davies’ free-kick, after Lee was fouled, beat the wall on 48 minutes but the Cofis keeper saved and pounced on the rebound.
At the other end, Dibble saved acrobatically to keep the scores level after a smart Caernarfon counter-attack.
The goalkeeper’s failure to claim a corner just moments later proved costly, however, as it presented the hosts with a simple tap-in – and Dibble suffered an injury as a result.
David Jones, Kai Evans, Will Mountfield and Dan Jones all came on as the Wrexham XI rotated their options, while Dibble was replaced in goal.
But Caernarfon’s captain doubled the hosts’ lead with a thumping free-kick from the edge of the box after Tunnicliffe’s foul.
There were bright moments for Wrexham – Dan Jones and Bickerstaff both having shots blocked, and McAlinden shooting over from a free-kick.
Wrexham AFC Youth players Owen Cushion and Rowan Davies came on for the final five minutes, and it was the former who started the move from which James’ cross flashed across goal moments later.
But there were to be no further goals, with all eyes now turning to Saturday, and the 3pm kick-off at the Racecourse Ground against Eastleigh which kicks off the Vanarama National League season.
Wrexham XI: Dibble (Trialist A 63), James, Tunnicliffe (R.Davies 85), Lennon (David Jones 60), Hosannah (Dan Jones 68), J.Davies (Mountfield 68), McAlinden (Cushion 85), D.Davies, Jenkins (Bickerstaff 46), Lee (Evans 60), Angus