DEAN KEATES was delighted to get the competitive pre-season friendly he wanted as Wrexham registered their second friendly in a row.

The Reds' second pre-season friendly against a Salford City XI at The Racecourse was played in three 40-minute periods and the hosts triumphed 2-1.

Keates named two different teams for the two-hour showdown, giving his players 60 minutes on the pitch, and the tackles flew in throughout the contest.

Wrexham, who began their pre-season programme with a 4-1 victory over Cefn Druids, took a 2-0 lead in the final 40 minutes with the second group of players on the pitch.

Trialist E scored for the second game running and first year pro Jake Bickerstaff was also on target, with Salford, whose first team began their League Two campaign the same afternoon, scoring a late consolation from the penalty spot.

For Keates, it was the perfect work-out.

"It's everything I want," said Keates. "There is such a thing as a friendly but there's not in our eyes.

"We want to win but it needs to be competitive and I am grateful how Salford went about it. It was a proper game for us.

"They got in our faces, they had a few feisty tackles and that is what our division is all about.

"There's a few that need to learn from it, one or two were just off it; we will work with them through the week and have a chat with them about it.

"They need to get up to speed with what the rest of the group are but it was a good workout for us."

Keates changed teams midway through the second period to ensure his players got 60 minutes under their belts.

Clear cut chances were at a minimum but the players who came on after an hour managed to take two of their opportunities, and Keates felt they could have scored more.

"Massive thanks to Salford for accommodating what we wanted to do with the three 40 minutes," said Keates.

"It is about pushing the lads on with competitive minutes and they have done well.

"I thought the first group, it was like a non-league game; it was fast, it was furious and Salford started the brightest but we eventually grew into it.

"The lads that came on for the second part, it was tricky for them.

Salford had already done 40-50 minutes and our players came into it from a stand-still start but full credit to the second group, they scored a couple of goals and a bit more ruthless, they could have got a few more."

Wrexham continue their pre-season programme with tomorrow's trip to National League North side Telford United and it's so far, so good as far as Keates is concerned.

"Relationships are forming but we will keep changing it round and keep freshening it up so that they get used to playing with the people next to them," added Keates.

"We work on things in the week and they are take it into practice."

It was a scrappy start with a couple of Salford half chances blocked by Wrexham players.

Jordan Ponticelli's strike from the edge of the area was easily dealt with but the Reds struggled to get a foothold in the game and with Salford on top, Rob Lainton did well to turn Hayden Campbell's shot behind in the 25th minute.

Kwame Thomas headed wide from a free-kick as Wrexham began to settle and the Reds made a bright start to the second period with Adi Yussuf's drive blocked by keeper Nick Hayes.

Salford responded with Momodou Touray bringing a smart save out of Lainton while Yussuf was thwarted by Hayes shortly after Keates introduced a different side for the second hour with the striker the only player to stay on.

It was still goalless when the game entered the third period but Wrexham took an 87th minute lead.

Bickerstaff challenged a defender on the edge of the area and the ball dropped for Trialist E who calmly slotted past the visitors' goalkeeper.

Wrexham were dominating and Theo Vassell saw a powerful header saved by the visiting goalkeeper as the Reds pressed for a second goal.

Bickerstaff fired narrowly wide but the striker found the net in the 102nd minute as he slotted home after being put through on goal to double Wrexham's advantage.

Salford reduced the deficit after 111 minutes from the penalty spot after trialist C committed a foul in the area but Wrexham went straight back on the attack and Bickerstaff's goalbound effort was blocked by a defender.

And after 120 minutes of action it was Wrexham who prevailed.

Wrexham first hour (4-4-2): Lainton; Hall-Johnson, Cleworth, Pearson, Trialist A; Davies, Harris, Carrington, Jarvis; Ponticelli (Yussuf 32), Thomas.

Wrexham second hour (4-4-2): Dibble; Trialist B, Trialist C, Vassell, Reckford; Trialist D, Redmond, Young, Jeffrey; Trialist E, Yussuf (Bickerstaff 71).

Salford City: Hayes, Loughlan, Collins, Hanfrey, Berkoe, Evans, Campbell, Johnston, Sargent, Hawkins, Touray.