The Leader:

SAM RICKETTS was disappointed Wrexham did not continue their winning run in pre-season during the trip to Portugal.

The Reds were victorious in the first two friendlies but Ricketts' side were held to a 2-2 draw by DC at The Estadio Argarve on Wednesday evening.

Mike Fondop and Nicky Deverdics put Wrexham 2-0 up at the break but the Reds conceded twice from set-pieces in the second half as the Portuguese third tier side hit back to level, and Ricketts was unhappy with the goals his team let in.

"I am disappointed to have drawn the game," said Ricketts. "We were 2-0 up and if I am brutally honest I am disappointed.

"You have to take it into context.

"There are things we have worked on so far in pre-season and there are things we haven't done.

"We haven't worked on any defensive set-pieces and we have conceded off a free-kick and a long throw.

"I am disappointed and the lads know that but at the same time we haven't worked on it as well."

Wrexham were good value for their lead at the interval after playing some excellent football.

"Really positive, there were some really good bits of play, especially first half and second half when we actually started passing the ball a little bit," said Ricketts.

"The players have taken on an awful lot of detail in a short amount of time.

"At times we looked very slick and very good at what we were trying to do both in and out of possession."

Summer signing Fondop, who finished last season at Halifax Town, put Wrexham ahead after meeting Mark Carrington's cross and Ricketts was delighted with the build-up to the goal.

"I thought it was a really good bit of team play," said Ricketts.

"A bit of patience in possession resulting in working the opportunity to cross the ball and Mike puts it away six yards out.

"Funnily enough the open training session was what we were working on, crossing the ball and making sure you are in the middle of the goal to score.

"It was a really good team goal and finished off well by Mike."

Goalkeeper Christian Dibble limped off in the first half and was replaced by Rob Lainton while captain Shaun Pearson picked up a knock and did not emerge for the second period.

It meant Ricketts, without the injured Kevin Roberts, had to shuffle the pack but he insists neither injuries were serious.

"Rob wasn't going to play," said Ricketts.

"Christian was going to play the whole game so Rob ended up doing a really big gym session in the afternoon on his legs, then he ended coming on and playing 70 minutes.

"Shaun would have played the whole game as well.

"These things happen and it is a consequence really of we have pushed the lads on this trip, we have trained double sessions and finished up with the game.

"It is unfortunate, no bad injuries. Pre-cautions more than anything, I think if it was a league game or a cup final I am sure the lads would have stayed on the pitch."

Wrexham were cheered on by hundreds of fans who made the trip to Portugal and Ricketts added: "The supporters have been fantastic and hopefully they enjoyed the game.

"I think they were singing second half 'you're supposed to be at home'

"I really hope that they had a good trip."

Don't miss our exclusive coverage of Wrexham AFC in Portugal all this week, in the Leader and online.

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