PHIL PARKINSON believes Wrexham lacked "calmness and quality" after being pegged back by Woking who went onto clinch a 2-1 win at The Kingfield.

The second placed Reds went into Saturday's clash, which kicked off at 5.20pm, knowing that victory would cut the gap on leaders Stockport County to four points following the Hatters' loss by the same score at Yeovil Town.

Looking to capitalise on that result, Wrexham took a 44th minute lead when substitute Liam McAlinden's cross was deflected into his own net by Tyreke Johnson.

However, Woking equalised midway through the second half from the penalty spot and the Cards scored a 86th minute winner.

Parkinson was happy with the performance up until the home side got back on level terms.

"I was pleased with the first half," said Parkinson.

"Difficult conditions with quite a strong wind, I thought we started with a strong, solid kind of performance.

"Then the game opened up and I felt we were the team who was going to get a goal which we did.

"We'd hit the bar before that and had a couple of moments, and I was generally pleased with the scoreline and how we'd gone about our business.

"Up until them scoring I felt we were in control of the game and we'd go and get the second goal."

Parkinson wasn't happy with the decision by referee Robert Whitton to award Woking a free-kick which led to the equaliser from the penalty spot after Jordan Davies handled in the area.

But with the game in the balance, the Reds' boss felt his side lost their way with the Cards going onto secure three points.

"I never really felt the referee was going to maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the game, and he didn't," said Parkinson.

"I thought the free-kick was soft and obviously the penalty he's decided to give.

"From there on in, with the intensity level cranked up a little bit from the home team, and decisions going against us, I didn't feel we showed enough calmness and quality in our play to go and win the game, and ultimately we've ended up getting beat.

"I just felt that we were contesting decisions instead of concentrating on what we needed to do to go and win the game.

"The quality level in our crossing, our set-play delivery, our weight of pass, just went and that was because our minds were kind of thinking about the referee or not quite dealing with the intensity."

Wrexham, who remain seven points behind Stockport after the 15-game unbeaten run came to an end, have five matches to go and will aim to bounce back at Weymouth tomorrow.

"We've had a terrific run," said Parkinson. "We've had a lot of plaudits on this run.

"It always hurts when you get beat but we have got to regroup and go again on Tuesday night."