MATT Crowell is looking to grasp his first-team chance with both hands and help propel Wrexham into the Division Two play-offs.

The 19-year-old midfielder has waited in the wings for most of the season, making just one league start before Darren Ferguson's suspension forced manger Denis Smith to thrust him into the Dragons' engine room for the 1-1 draw with Rushden and Diamonds a fortnight ago.

Crowell repaid his manager's faith by turning in a man-of-the-match performance and he went one better against Grimsby last Saturday, scoring a 25-yard screamer to set his side on their way to a 3-0 win.

More man-of-the-match bubbly followed, and Crowell - a close-season capture from Southampton - says he is now determined to ensure he remains a regular fixture in the side. 'I've had to be patient since I arrived here but now I'm just chuffed to be playing,' he said. 'All I want to do is play, so at the moment I couldn't be happier.

'If I keep working hard and playing like I have in the last couple of games, I'm confident it will be enough to keep me in the side.'

The Swansea-born teenager was quick to praise manager Smith, who has worked hard to curb Crowell's fiery temperament since his switch from the Saints.

'The gaffer said I was a bit too hotheaded and he's got me to work on improving that,' admitted Crowell, who blotted his copybook with a late booking for a mistimed tackle on Saturday. 'He said if I'm going to play, then he doesn't want me sent off. know there's still loads I've got to learn, but I feel I've matured a fair bit already.'

Dragons' boss Smith was delighted to see Crowell score his first goal for the club against Grimsby, but gave the teenager a post-match ticking off for his second-half booking.

He said: 'Matt scores good goals. One of the reasons why I put him in was because I was looking for goals from midfield and he's produced that.

'He's got better as the season has gone on as regards discipline, although I wasn't over-impressed with one tackle in particular. But I want him to compete and there were a lot of good tackles, which makes a big difference in mid-field.'

Crowell's start against Grimsby was only his third in the league, while he was also featured in four cup matches. Now he is looking to retain his place in the starting lineup for Wrexham's visit to Peter-borough United on Saturday (March 13) and QPR on Tuesday (March 16).

Centre-back Brian Carey serves the second game of his two-match ban on Saturday, but will return to the reckoning for the midweek trip to London.