WREXHAM'S first win in seven matches was not only well-deserved but long overdue, according to manager Denis Smith.

Although still handicapped by the absence through injury of several key players, the Dragons boss said: "I thought we played well against Hartlepool and at Oldham.

"We didn't play well at Colchester but I had seven players missing that day. Today I thought we played well again because there's a limit to what you can do.

"The pleasing thing was that we worked hard and we got the result we deserved. I thought the front two worked their socks off, the midfield players won second ball and at the back we've had to withstand a constant bombardment.

"The ball was coming in constantly but we were able to handle it. Paul Barrett at wing-back did superbly well for me considering he's probably our fifth choice to play in that position."

Two points from their previous six matches ended Wrexham's play-off hopes but Smith said there could be no excuse for easing off in the remaining few weeks of the season.

"You have always got to have ambitions to do something and mine now is to finish in the top half - in the top 10 if we can," he added.

"We can then say we've had a reasonable season. Okay, it could have been better because we've blown up but we got injuries at the wrong time. And we want to win the FAW Premier Cup - that gives us a spur. Rhyl might have felt we'd gone but now they might think they will have a more difficult game. And we've still got two league games to go and we'll see if we can get six points.

"These are professional footballers and I would expect them to put in a performance. People have paid money to watch them and they are entitled to see players go out there and work hard. If you work hard and it doesn't come off for you, they will forgive you. If you don't then you cannot be forgiven."

Smith derived satisfaction from the performance of teenagers Simon Spender and second-half substitute Mark Jones.

"Mark came on and he did well," he said. "It was good for him because he's fine going forward but he's a little bit lost on the defensive side of his game.

"It was a good experience for him and it's been a pleasing week.

"When you see Simon Spender play right wing-back on Tuesday and in the centre of the defence today and do as well as he's done, that's pleasing.

"It shows that the young lads are coming through but we can't rely totally on them if we want to win things.

"The disappointing thing is that the people who are staying away are making my job extremely difficult to push on.

"I can't go to the board and demand money when we are getting only 3,000 through the gate."