LUCK has been in short supply around the Race-course in recent times. But just when Wrexham needed it on Saturday, it came, writes Paul Wheelock.

Seven minutes into the clash between two sides who were relegated from League One last season, Stockport's former Paris St-Germain defender Ludovic Dje stupidly got himself sent off for elbowing Paul Linwood.

That was the kind of boost the injury-ravaged Dragons needed. But make no mistake, for the best part of an hour following the dismissal, Wrexham made their own luck and a single from Jon Walters and a Mark Jones double was scant reward for a thrilling spell of football.

Little wonder then that Reds manager Smith was a happy man after the game.

He said: 'It was a very good win and one we deserved. I would have taken 1-0 before the game given the week we've had, so 3-0 was very pleasing.

'We started well, even before the sending off. And from then on we controlled the game.'

The boss made just one change to the side that crashed 4-1 at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night, with Dean Bennett taking the place of Robbie Foy up front, meaning Simon Spender slotted in at right wing-back.

Smith based his decision on Bennett's ability to pull centrehalves out of position - and the former Kidderminster Harriers man didn't him let him down with a tireless display.

But it was strike partner Walters who opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a fabulous strike.

Wrexham, prepared to play the waiting game following Dje's dismissal, had yet to trouble County keeper Carl Ikeme.

But that changed when Walters injected the pace the game needed with a fine turn and ferocious left-footed drive that arrowed into the top corner.

Long-range shooting was the order of the day for the home side, with Danny Williams and captain Darren Ferguson - making his 250th league appearance for the Reds - both trying their luck.

The closest they came to a second though was through Walters, who made the perfect run to latch on to a Bennett pass, but the marksman angled his drive wide.

And the Dragons' were nearly made to pay in first-half injury time, but Ashley Williams' effort was cleared off the line by namesake Danny.

But Wrexham nerves were calmed six minutes after the break when Jones lashed home from the edge of the area after Alex Smith's cross had only been partially cleared.

Jones, who scored the consolation against Wycombe four days earlier, then notched his fifth of the season on 57 minutes.

Taking the ball from the excellent Smith, the Wales prospect fired in an unstoppable low drive from 20 yards to put the game to bed.

At that point you would have put money on Jones collecting his hat-trick and his side adding to their three-goal tally.

However, the hosts took their foot off the gas - but not that 10-men Stockport could take advantage, with their afternoon best summed up when Wrexham's rookie keeper Michael Jones spilled a Ham-shaw free-kick into the path of substitute Tes Bramble who, with the goal gaping, could only hit a post.