PHIL PARKINSON felt Wrexham remembered the victims of the Gresford mining disaster in the best way possible by registering a huge victory over Torquay United on Saturday.

Wrexham triumphed 6-0 against the Gulls at The Racecourse to extend the unbeaten run to seven games and stay second in the National League.

On September 22, 1934, an explosion in a section of the Gresford mine tragically killed 266 men and a minute’s silence was impeccably observed before kick-off as nearly 10,000 fans paid their respects.

Parkinson wanted his players to pay their tribute by delivering the goods on the pitch and the Reds’ boss got his wish as Torquay were put to the sword.

“We knew it was a special day for the town, with the 88th anniversary of the Gresford mining disaster,” said Parkinson.

“We spoke about that to the lads on Friday in the meeting, explained to them all and the new lads how important this weekend is to the club.

“That we have got a duty to send this crowd home bouncing because we know what a week it is for the area.

“We spoke about putting a performance in which paid tribute to those people who sadly lost their lives; we mentioned it again at half-time and I feel we did that.”

Wrexham were 3-0 up at the break with Jordan Davies, Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer - last season’s top scorers - all finding the back of the net.

The lead was thoroughly deserved but Parkinson wasn’t totally happy with the first half performance.

“Not just the back three but as a team, first half I just thought we were a little bit loose,” he said.

“But kind of almost before I spoke at half-time, the lads knew that themselves and we just rectified that.

“We always say that teams who come to The Racecourse, we don’t want to give them time to play; we don’t want to give them opportunities.

“We want to make it as difficult as possible the way we play with the ball, but without the ball as well, and I felt second period we got that just right.”

Aaron Hayden made it 4-0 in the 72nd minute before summer signings Sam Dalby, who came off the bench, and Anthony Forde completed the scoring with their first goals for the club.

It was a job well done in the end as far as Parkinson was concerned, with Wrexham remaining one point behind leaders Chesterfield.

“I was very pleased with the performance,” said Parkinson.

“Obviously first half was good but defensively we gave them one or two openings which we rectified at half-time, and I thought the second half was a very good performance where we looked sound defensively.

“We gave them very little and we looked dangerous every time we attacked.”

There was a blow as wing-back Jacob Mendy limped off in the first half with a hamstring injury which will be assessed, although substitute Callum McFadzean impressed as his replacement.