A BUMPER pay-day for Wrexham, no embarrassment in the Liverpool camp and a goal on his debut for Wales international Craig Bellamy brought satisfaction all-round at the Racecourse on Saturday.

It was hardly surprising that the first pre-season friendly for both teams turned out to be less competitive than their meetings in each of the previous two years.

But the opening 45 minutes, at least, gave both sets of supporters some grounds for optimism with the Dragons parading their four new signings, while the Premiership visitors - not with standing the absence of the majority of their World Cup participants - showcased the depth of talent available to Anfield boss Rafa Benitez.

Few outside Merseyside would have heard of Paul Anderson, but the England youth international scored a fine goal after just six minutes, volleying home a pin-point cross from John Arne-Riise.

Minutes later, the Norwegian international did it again - although Besian Idrizaj's finish was less fruitful, his first-time shot fizzing just wide of Michael Jones'

goal. Even at half-pace, Liverpool were able to force errors, Chris Llewellyn's attempted cross-field pass being intercepted by Bellamy, whose effort was well-blocked by the teenage keeper and it was not until the 17th minute that the home side threatened.

Immaculate ball control by Neil Roberts enabled the striker to bring Llewellyn into play and the former Welsh international cut inside to thump a swerving shot narrowly past the upright. It was the signal for Wrexham to knock the ball round with a bit more confidence and there were half-chances for both Matty Done and Steve Evans to test Jerzy Dudek before the half-time break brought wholesale changes.

But the home side's best opportunity came five minutes into the second half when Roberts met a Darren Ferguson corner, only to see his downward header cleared off the line.

Just Bellamy and Danny Guthrie of Liverpool's outfield players had continued after the break and it was Robbie Fowler who delivered the delightful through ball to give the new boy his debut goal after 53 minutes.

It came just three minutes before the Wales striker was replaced and Bellamy said afterwards: "The gaffer told me at half-time I'd have 10 minutes longer, so I knew how long I had to score."

But the applause that greeted Bellamy's strike was nothing compared to the ovation given to Wrexham's Trinidad international Dennis Lawrence when he took to the field for the final 30 minutes.

Racecourse boss Denis Smith afterwards paid a heartfelt tribute to the Anfield club, saying: "Liverpool have been absolutely magnificent to this football club since we've been in trouble.

"We could not have asked for better from a Premier League club, who have shown they care about football in general and don't just care about themselves.

"They have kept us afloat."

WREXHAM: Michael Jones (Ingham 45); Spender, Pejic (Lawrence 57), S Evans (G Evans 73), Valentine (Mike Williams 45), Mark Jones (Johnson 45), D Williams (Crowell 45), Ferguson (Marc Williams 72), Done (Mackin 63), Roberts (Reed 72), Llewellyn.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek (Martin 72); Finnan (Smith 45), Paletta (Antwi 45), Roque (Hyypia 45), Riise (Diao 45), Hobbs (Peltier 45), Anderson (Hammill 45), Zenden (Fowler 45), Bellamy (O'Donnell 57), Guthrie (Threlfall 68), Idrizaj (Sinama-Pongolle)..

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