AARON HAYDEN accepts Wrexham weren't good enough in the first meeting against Marine but the centre-back wants to make the most of having a second bite of the cherry.

Phil Parkinson's side were second best throughout Saturday's FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Rossett Park with the Mariners, plying their trade three divisions below the Reds in the Northern Premier League Division One West, taking a 78th minute lead.

It looked like Wrexham were crashing out of the competition but Jordan Davies equalised with a stunning free-kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The teams will go head to head in tonight's replay at Nantwich Town - the game can't take place at The Racecourse because the pitch has been relaid - and the reward for the winners is a trip to League Two Harrogate Town in the first round proper on the weekend of November 5-8.

Hayden wants to get Saturday's performance out of the system by registering victory at The Optimum Pay Stadium.

"We weren't at our best on Saturday but the lads worked really hard and dug in, and we are still in the hat for the next round which is the most important thing," said Hayden.

"Credit to Marine, they stuck at it all game but we know we can be better as a team.

"We are not happy with how we played but at the same time, there is more to come from us.

"We would love to have gone there and won two or three nil in an ideal world but it doesn't always work like that.

"You have just got to work hard and the main thing is we are still in the cup.

"It is great for the fans, it is all about us finishing the job in the replay."

Hayden, an ever-present since arriving from League Two outfit Carlisle United for an undisclosed fee in the summer, is just pleased that Wrexham avoided an upset and live to fight another day.

"Marine are the underdogs, they had the crowd with them and they had nothing to lose," said Hayden.

"It was always going to be tough going there but we stuck to the task on a tough pitch.

"At times I think we can have more quality and we know that.

"It is all about us improving and putting teams to the sword.

"The lads showed great resilience being 1-0 down late in the game to pull a goal back right at the death.

"That shows the character of the team."

Wrexham are back in National League action on Saturday when they head to Barnet and the Reds are also away at Maidenhead the following Tuesday.

Hayden is looking to hit the ground running following a near three week break from the league and to start climbing the league, with the Reds currently mid-table after an indifferent start to the campaign.

"I am buzzing to get straight back into the league," added Hayden.

"We have had a little hiatus but the lads are all raring to get going again.

"We know as a squad that we can do a lot better.

"It has not been terrible but we have got high standards and we aim to do better in the league going forward.

"It is all about us taking it one game at a time and getting the three points on Saturday which is the most important thing."