WREXHAM beat Dover Athletic 3-1 at The Racecourse in their first outing of the year.

It was nearly three weeks since Dean Keates' side last played with two matches postponed because of coronavirus.

But the Reds secured a hard-fought victory over the Whites on their return to action and moved up to eighth in the National League table.

Keates made three changes from the side that lost 2-0 at Stockport in the Reds' last game of 2020 on December 28.

James Horsfield, Dan Jarvis and Adi Yussuf came into the starting line-up in place of captain Shaun Pearson, who was injured, Elliott Durrell and Kwame Thomas who were both named on the substitutes bench.

Ryan Hanson volleyed well over the bar with the first chance of the game for Dover.

Theo Vassell should have done better at the other end as the well-placed centre-back failed to get a touch to Luke Young's dangerous free-kick into the box.

Jarvis had a goal ruled out because Reece Hall-Johnson committed a foul before picking out the midfielder and Jordan Ponticelli's goalbound shot was blocked by a defender as Wrexham continued their bright spell.

Young's 25-yard drive was saved by goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin while Ade Azeez fired wide for Dover but Wrexham took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Hall-Johnson picked the ball up on the right and ran into the area before slotting past Mersin with his left-foot.

But Dover were almost back on level terms immediately as Ahkeem Rose latched onto a pass and rounded Rob Lainton but his effort was blocked by Vassell who prevented a certain goal.

However, the Whites equalised two minutes before a break after Jay Harris gave away a silly free-kick.

Jack Munns whipped in the set-piece and Rose's header found the back of the net.

Ponticelli brought a save out of Mersin at the start of the second half but Wrexham switched off at the back and Harry Ransom failed to hit target with the centre-back also firing wide with another opportunity.

However, Wrexham were back in the lead after 60 minutes.

Jordan Davies' corner was only partially cleared, Young lofted the ball back into the dangerzone and Fiacre Kelleher's header beat Mersin.

The Whites goalkeeper then pulled off a superb save to keep out Yussuf's drive and also did well to deny Young.

Hall-Johnson almost got his second goal of the afternoon after Ponticelli was thwarted by Mersin but the right wing-back fired wide after the ball fell into his path.

Wrexham scored a third goal deep into added time after substitute Thomas was pulled down by Mersin and Young made no mistake with the penalty.

Wrexham (3-4-1-2): Lainton; Horsfield, Kelleher, Vassell; Hall-Johnson, Harris, Young, Davies; Jarvis (Rutherford 90); Ponticelli, Yussuf (Thomas 90). Subs: Dibble, Durrell, Redmond.

Dover Athletic (3-4-1-2): Mersin; Spencer-Adams (Collins 78), De Havilland, Ransom; Bramble, Hanson (Cumberbatch 83), Gobern, Wood; Munns (Mussa 64); Rose, Azeez. Subs: Smith, Wratten.