HANDS up if you saw this coming!

Wrexham went into their clash against Halifax on the back of three successive defeats and down to eighth position with the play-off challenge fading quickly.

The Shaymen were one place above Dean Keates' side following a good run but the Reds turned the form book around by running out 4-0 winners which saw them replace the Shaymen in the top seven as the teams switched positions.

All the damage was done in a scintillating first half where Wrexham, who couldn't really afford to lose and let their opponents go six points ahead of them, run riot.

On top from the start, Wrexham scored four times in the opening 45 minutes with Jordan Davies bagging a hat-trick and Dior Angus getting back on the scoresheet.

It was a lead that the Reds thoroughly deserved and they saw the game out in the second half to pick up a much needed victory.

There are nine games remaining in the push for a top-seven finish and this result should give Wrexham the perfect confidence booster following the bad start to April.

Keates made three changes from the side that started the 3-0 defeat against Stockport three days earlier.

Captain Shaun Pearson returned to the heart of the defence in place of Reece Hall-Johnson after he was named among the substitutes for the previous two games, meaning Tyler French switched from centre-half to the right wing-back role.

Paul Rutherford took over from Dan Jarvis in the hole behind the two frontmen where there was a first start for Gold Omotayo alongside Dior Angus.

Omotayo appeared as a substitute at the weekend and he replaced Keanu Marsh-Brown, another of the three attacking players brought to The Racecourse on non contract terms, who was on the bench.

Left-back Cameron Green, who signed for Wrexham on a similar deal earlier in the week following a successful trial, did not make the squad while midfielder Jay Harris was still suspended.

Despite their awful form this month, the Reds have made a bright start to games and it was no different at the Shay.

Angus' shot inside the opening 60 seconds was weak and easily gathered by Sam Johnson who pulled off a much better save to turn Rutherford's drive behind for a corner.

And from the resulting set-piece delivered by Jamie Reckord, Wrexham took a fourth minute lead as Davies turned the ball home from close range.

Wrexham goalkeeper Christian Dibble was called into action for the first time as he got tipped Niall Maher's low drive around the post.

But a quick break almost led to the Reds doubling their advantage as Rutherford ran at goal and fed Angus who was denied by Johnson.

Davies' shot from outside the area was blocked by a defender but Wrexham made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.

A stooping Omotayo did well to nod the ball down for Angus who fired past Johnson.

It got even better for Wrexham who scored a third goal after 32 minutes.

Nathan Clarke was dispossessed by Davies who went around Johnson and coolly found the back of the net to double his account for the evening.

Wrexham weren't finished there with half-time approaching and they made it 4-0 four minutes later.

The ball dropped to Davies outside the area and he took a touch before unleashing a stunning drive that found the top corner.

Halifax were always going to come out fired up at the start of the second half and Jack Earing's 25 yard drive struck the underside of the area, with the Shaymen claiming the ball had crossed the line.

Luke Summerfield, a key man for Halifax who he joined last summer following his release by Wrexham, saw his effort parried by Dibble while opposite number Johnson was called upon to keep out Luke Young's free-kick as the Reds showed they weren't done.

Maher found the net with a header from Martin Woods' free-kick but the goal was disallowed for offside and the latter's shot was deflected wide while Billy Chadwick also went close as Halifax continued to press.

Kieran Green wasn't far away with a header while Wrexham substitute Devonte Redmond, on for Angus, dragged his effort wide.

Striker Chris Sang also came on for his Reds' debut in place of Omotayo and the visitors celebrated a welcome win.

Halifax Town (3-4-1-2): Johnson; Bradbury (Woods 46), Clarke, Byrne; King, Summerfield, Maher, Senior; Earing (Green 76); Allen, Hyde (Chadwick 64). Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Williams.

Wrexham (3-4-1-2): Dibble; Kelleher, Pearson, Carrington; French, Young, Davies, Reckord; Rutherford; Omotayo (87), Angus (Redmond 80). Subs not used: Hall-Johnson, Jarvis, Marsh-Brown.