THIS was a huge missed opportunity as Wrexham lost 2-1 at Woking after seeing title rivals Stockport County suffer defeat earlier in the afternoon.

The Wrexham players were out doing their warm-up when cheers rang out from the Reds' supporters already in the Kingfield Stadium when they discovered Stockport had gone down 2-1 at Yeovil.

Phil Parkinson's men would have known how their title rivals had fared so it was then over to them to capitalise.

But although the Reds took a 44th minute lead, Woking turned things around in the second half to seal victory.

Wrexham, whose 15 game unbeaten run came to an end, remain second in the National League, seven points behind leaders Stockport with five matches to go.

Parkinson named the same starting XI for the eight game in a row with Wrexham in such excellent form but the Reds' boss was forced into a change after only six minutes with Liam McAlinden replacing Callum McFadzean who went off injured.

Wrexham goalkeeper Christian Dibble made a routine save before Woking felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Tyreke Johnson went to ground under Luke Young's challenge but it wasn't given.

David Longe-King also headed wide for the home side, who had grown into the game, following a corner before Wrexham had two chances.

Jordan Davies' free-kick was cleared to Paul Mullin whose shot was blocked for a corner and as the Reds kept the pressure on, Young's effort from outside the area fell wide.

Davies was unable to bring down Mullin's ball into the danger-zone and goalkeeper Craig Ross gathered but Wrexham almost took the lead on 36 minutes.

Mullin centred from the by-line following a quickly-taken free-kick and James Jones struck the crossbar after taking a touch.

However, the Reds went 1-0 up a minute before the break.

Davies picked out McAlinden whose cross deflected off Johnson and beat Ross.

Jones saw his effort deflected wide for a corner at the start of the second half and after Ollie Palmer was fouled just outside the area, Davies' goalbound free-kick was turned over the bar by Ross.

But Woking equalised in the 65th minute.

Davies handled in the area when Rohan Ince got his head to a free-kick and Max Kretzschmar converted the resulting spot-kick.

Wrexham responded with Mullin firing over the bar from a tight angle inside the area following Reece Hall-Johnson's through-ball while Dan Jarvis replaced Jones with 11 minutes to go.

Woking went close to taking the lead but Dibble made a brilliant save to deny substitute Nicke Kabamba.

However, the Cards went 2-1 up in the 86th minute.

Wrexham lost the ball, Woking crossed from the right and Jamar Loza slotted home.

Jordan Ponticelli replaced Max Cleworth while Wrexham thought they'd equalised but Hall-Johnson's goalbound drive was headed clear by Moussa Diarra.

McAlinden made a goalline clearance at the other end and Woking clinched victory.

Woking (4-2-2-2): Ross; Longe-King, McNerney, Diarra, Casey; Roles, Ince; Johnson (Nwabuokei 78), Kretzschmar (Anderson 85); Loza, Effiong (Kabamba 61). Subs not used: Champion, Oakley.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Dibble; Hall-Johnson, Hayden, Tozer, Cleworth (Ponticelli 87), McFadzean (McAlinden 6); James Jones (Jarvis 79), Young, Davies; Mullin, Palmer. Subs not used: Camp, French.

Attendance: 2,697 (658 from Wrexham).