PHIL PARKINSON hailed Elliot Lee after the summer signing came off the substitutes bench and turned things around to secure Wrexham an opening day victory over Eastleigh.

The Reds, favourites to clinch the National League title heading into a 15th season in the fifth tier, had to come from behind to clinch a 2-1 win in front of nearly 9,900 supporters at The Racecourse.

The Spitfires took a 14th minute lead and their time-wasting tactics frustrated Wrexham.

But summer signing Lee, who sustained a glut injury in pre-season after joining from Luton Town, came on in the 63rd minute and enjoyed a dream debut.

Playmaker Lee scored a superb equaliser before firing home the winner with five minutes to go, earning praise from his manager.

"Elliot was a key signing for us," said Parkinson.

"We worked hard on that one. Credit to the owners and Shaun Harvey for working hard to get that over the line.

"When he came in, he had a longer period of inactivity than our boys, and then he picked up a little injury in Spain which meant he missed football.

"At this stage, I didn't feel it was worth putting him out there from the start.

"I said to him that I felt he was better served for the last 30 minutes, when there are tired legs, with the pre-season he has had, but he is a terrific player and our supporters are going to enjoy watching him play.

"Elliot has come on and produced two moments of real magic for us."

Patience was key as far as Parkinson was concerned.

"It is not letting the frustration affect our game and that is key so don't play with desperation because that is not how we play," he added.

"I felt that they would tire and cramp up if we were patient and we kept moving it, but moving it with a purpose and not just moving it backwards for the sake of it.

"If there was space to step in, step in with the ball and be progressive, and I felt the moments would come.

"It is a big win for us, any win is important but the first one of the season is good to get those three points on the board."

Lee managed to upstage Paul Mullin who went into the first game of the campaign after signing a contract extension.

Mullin joined Wrexham from Cambridge last summer and scored 30 goals in all competitions in 2021-22 as the Reds finished runners-up to Stockport County, earning him the National League player of the season award.

The 27-year-old has penned a one-year contract extension with the option of an extra year, which will keep him at the Racecourse until at least the end of the 2024/25 season.

Ahead of the big kick-off, Parkinson also brought in goalkeeper Rory Watson as a short-term back-up on a non-contract basis, after Christian Dibble sustained a knee injury in the final pre-season friendly at Caernarfon.

Watson, who was most recently at Scunthorpe, started his career at Hull City and has also had loan spells with Gainsborough Trinity and North Ferriby.

He was an unused substitute against Eastleigh and Parkinson is set to bring in another goalkeeper to compete with Mark Howard as Rob Lainton is also sidelined.