ANDY MORRELL believes Wrexham should take the FA Trophy seriously and try and go as far as possible in the competition.

The Reds beat Gloucester City 5-0 to set up Saturday's fourth round tie against Folkestone Invicta at The Racecourse.

The promotion challenge is the priority but victory would put Phil Parkinson's side into the last 16.

Morrell believes having a good run in the Trophy can have a positive impact on the league, pointing to Wrexham beating Grimsby Town in the 2013 showpiece when he was in charge before going on to reach the play-off final later in the season.

"We proved it, York proved it," said Morrell.

"I think the more games you get, the more momentum you can pick up and you just keep going and going.

"I didn't realise the significance of the Trophy until you hit the last 16 and then you are like 'we are only three games away from Wembley here'.

"It is very do-able because you are one of the better teams in the competition so I think they will be taking it equally as serious and try and go as far as they can."

Although players were missing and he decided to rest top scorer Paul Mullin and defender Aaron Hayden, Parkinson still named a strong side for the third round victory against Gloucester.

Should he decide to again give some of his regulars a breather for the visit of Isthmian League Premier Division outfit Folkestone, Morrell believes the Reds' boss will still be naming a decent team because he has strength in depth in the squad.

"You look at the squad and you have got Dior Angus who has not played for a while," said Morrell.

"He scored goals in the league last year so that is not weakening your team.

"That is giving him minutes to be ready to go in the next game if he is needed; a chance for him to go 'play me instead of Jordan Ponticelli'.

"It is a great idea to go for it because your players have had minutes on the pitch which are needed and it keeps the group together when you are not playing week in, week out."

Morrell added: "Those players in the squad are good enough to start. I don't think you lose anything from that.

"I wasn't trying to demean the competition but I would give the likes of Johnny Hunt, who were on the fringes, game time.

"They were brilliant players and I just wanted them to get minutes.

"It just worked out in the first few rounds that we were really good, got through, and then you think there could be a chance here, and then you revert to your strongest team if you like."

Wrexham, playing at Wembley for the first time in the club's history, beat Grimsby in the final on a penalty shoot-out after the game finished in a 1-1 draw.

"It was brilliant to get to the final and win it," said Morrell. "I look back at it with really fond memories."