IT was tough going but Wrexham broke their duck on 3G pitches against Harrogate Town and Dean Keates hailed his side's commitment to the cause.

The Reds made the trip to second placed Harrogate looking for their first ever win on an artificial playing surface.

Even though they beat Woking 3-0 the previous weekend, Wrexham were not fancied to get anything at Wetherby Road but the players rose to the occasion.

Although James Jennings scored a stunning 11th minute free-kick to make it 1-0, Wrexham had to soak up a lot of pressure in the first half.

Wrexham were on top after the break and JJ Hooper's goal secured a 2-0 victory which helped ease the Reds' relegation fears, and led to Keates hailing the desire of his players to ensure they made it two wins in a row.

“As I said through the week, it is not about the surface, it is about the mentality when we cross that white line," said Keates.

“The group, I think they could have played on a car park.

“To a man they were outstanding, they wanted it.

“Harrogate had a free-kick right on the edge of the box and the four-man wall, there were no splitters, nobody turned their back, they took it on the chest and they arrived on the second ball.

“That was 11 players and the subs, everybody giving something for the football club and the badge.

“There was a massive disappointment against Aldershot, there has been a reaction and we have to keep going now."

Jennings was the latest Wrexham player to score a contender for the goal of the season award and Keates also hailed Hooper for his contribution which deserved a goal.

"We tried to set something up for the free-kick and he has gone for it," said Keates.

"They took responsibility out there and James put it in the top corner so fair play to him.

"The second one, JJ was immense.

"He was unplayable. He pressed from the front, he set the tone for the team and he got his reward."

But Keates insists all the players deserve credit for the way they have turned things around since losing 2-1 against Aldershot in early January by registering two successive wins and clean sheets, and he wants to make it a hat-trick at home to lowly Dagenham on Saturday.

“I am not just naming the 13 or 14 players," said Keates. "It is a squad game and they have all worked harder since the Aldershot disappointment.

“Everybody has been putting it in in training and the mentality seems to be shifting but we have to go and get three wins."

More than 600 supporters made the trip to Yorkshire and Keates says the travelling contingent spurred his side on to another much needed win which takes Wrexham up to 16th in the National League, four points above the drop zone.

“We sent the fans home happy," said Keates.

“Great numbers, to an extent like a home game, unbelievable support.

“The longer it went on you could see them buying more into the group.

“We have to work together, on the pitch and in the stands, as it has been when the good times have been at this football club.

“The stand makes a difference for the team, they become the 12th man.

“Towards the end we got pinned back again but I felt comfortable that we would keep a clean sheet and the fans drove the lads across the line."

Keates, who has already completed three new signings this month, still wants to strengthen his squad further before the January transfer window closes despite the back to back wins.

“It doesn’t change," added Keates.

“We have spoken with players, spoken with teams; there have been one or two things put out, one or two things have been rejected, so we move onto something else.

“I am still looking at adding bodies this week, it is healthy competition."