WREXHAM debutant Matt Derbyshire was as delighted at winning three points for his new club on Tuesday as he was with his first-ever goals in league football.

The 19-year-old Blackburn Rovers loan signing was the difference between the Dragons and opponents Rushden & Diamonds at the Race-course, finding the net twice in the space of 12 first-half minutes to settle the outcome.

But he admitted afterwards it had taken him a little time to settle down.

"For the first five or 10 minutes I was pretty nervous because it was my first game here," he said. "The gaffer brought me here to score goals so obviously I was delighted to get them but I was more pleased because we took the three points, which is what counts.

"The more games I play the more the other lads will know what I'm about and it's very much about confidence. I was happy with my performance and hopefully I'll take that into the next game and maybe score again."

Wrexham boss Denis Smith declared himself satisfied with the outcome, pointing out that a re-shaped Rushden team were a lot better than their league position suggests.

Results elsewhere meant the visitors went bottom of League Two on Tuesday evening but Smith reckons they will soon begin to climb the table.

"It's easy to under-estimate Rushden if you look only at the first half of the season," he said..

"They've brought a lot of players in, they have been getting some good results of late and if they continue to play like they are not going down. So it was a good result for us.

"It wasn't the best of games because the ball was up in the air for a lot of the time but Matt Derbyshire has come in and scored two great goals which killed them off.

"What's more, we've defended well and kept a clean sheet for the second game in a row. After we established our half-time lead we closed the game down."

The Dragons boss revealed he had warned his players during the interval not to react to Rushden's physical approach, adding: "I told them not to get involved and avoid any silly bookings.

"I would have liked us to play a bit better after the break and pass the ball more, but you have to give the opposition some credit because they've thrown everything at us. Even though they had a lot of the ball, Rush-den didn't get many shots at goal.

"And you have to remember we have a fairly young side. Derbyshire is only 19, Sam Williams is 18 and there are a few other youngsters as well.

"Even Mike Ingham has only played 50 league games, so they are all getting experience. Shaun Pejic, for example, is having a super season now, after settling back in again.

"He might not be the best on the ball but he's one hell of a defender."

* WREXHAM manager Denis Smith has extended Sam Williams' loan from Aston Villa by a further month.

"Sam has done well for us," said Smith. "The people at Villa are happy for him to stay with us for another four weeks."