Wrexham 3-1 Gateshead

Wrexham moved to the top of the National League with a 3-1 win over Gateshead at the Racecourse Ground.

The hosts took the lead on 18 minutes when Paul Rutherford slalomed his way into the penalty area and kept his cool to slide the ball under the goalkeeper.

The Dragons doubled their lead when Brad Walker fired home his second goal of the season on 68 minutes.

Luke Armstrong pulled one back for Gateshead, but Rekeil Pyke's third for the hosts ensured no grandstand finish.

Wrexham manager Sam Ricketts told BBC Sport Wales:

"We are delighted with being top of the table, it is a nice reward for the players for the effort they have put in this season.

"But for me, the performance today was the most pleasing thing. It really shows what this team can potentially do.

"The performance level today was excellent... it is a massive step in the right direction.

"We are improving as a side and will continue to try and improve all the time and see where that takes us."

• Line-ups
• Live Text

Line-ups

Wrexham

Formation 4-3-3

18Lainton

2Roberts30Lawlor16Walker3Jennings

5Pearson7Summerfield8Young

14Rutherford10Holroyd23Beavon

• 18Lainton
• 2Roberts
• 30Lawlor
• 16WalkerSubstituted forWrightat 86'minutes
• 3Jennings
• 5Pearson
• 7Summerfield
• 8Young
• 14Rutherford
• 10HolroydSubstituted forPykeat 70'minutes
• 23BeavonSubstituted forDeverdicsat 84'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Dibble
• 9Fondop-Talom
• 11Pyke
• 17Deverdics
• 20Wright

Gateshead

Formation 4-3-3

23Pears

3Barrow6Williamson8Olley2Tinkler

5Kerr4Hunter15White

19Boden9Armstrong10Rigg

• 23PearsBooked at 35mins
• 3Barrow
• 6Williamson
• 8Olley
• 2Tinkler
• 5Kerr
• 4HunterSubstituted forMellishat 46'minutes
• 15White
• 19Boden
• 9Armstrong
• 10RiggSubstituted forMolyneuxat 58'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Foden
• 7Thomson
• 12Mellish
• 14O'Donnell
• 21Molyneux

Referee:

Gary Parsons

Attendance:

4,421

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Wrexham 3, Gateshead 1.

2. 90'+3'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Wrexham 3, Gateshead 1.

3. 90'+2'

   Goal!

   Goal! Wrexham 3, Gateshead 1. Rekeil Pyke (Wrexham).

4. 88'

   Goal!

   Goal! Wrexham 2, Gateshead 1. Luke Armstrong (Gateshead).

5. 86'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Wrexham. Akil Wright replaces Brad Walker.

6. 84'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Wrexham. Nicky Deverdics replaces Stuart Beavon.

7. 70'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Wrexham. Rekeil Pyke replaces Chris Holroyd.

8. 68'

   Goal!

   Goal! Wrexham 2, Gateshead 0. Brad Walker (Wrexham).

9. 58'

   Substitution

   Substitution, Gateshead. Luke Molyneux replaces Steven Rigg.

10. 46'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Gateshead. Jon Mellish replaces Jack Hunter.

11. Second Half

    Second Half begins Wrexham 1, Gateshead 0.

12. 45'

    Half Time

    First Half ends, Wrexham 1, Gateshead 0.

13. 35'

    Booking

    Aynsley Pears (Gateshead) is shown the yellow card.

14. 18'

    Goal!

    Own Goal by Fraser Kerr, Gateshead. Wrexham 1, Gateshead 0.

15. Kick Off

    First Half begins.

16. Posted at 14:16 3 Nov 201814:16 3 Nov 2018

    Post update

    Lineups are announced and players are warming up.