STEVEN FLETCHER'S seventh goal of the season secured a 1-0 victory against Notts County at The Racecourse as Wrexham climbed up to third in League Two.

Phil Parkinson's men ended a run of four successive defeats, with three coming in the league, by beating lowly Sutton United 2-1 on Tuesday to get the promotion push back on track and the Reds made it two wins in a row by beating play-off chasing Magpies.

Not only did Wrexham, who pipped County to the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, complete the double over their rivals but results elsewhere were favourable.

The Reds saw a number of the teams around them lose and Parkinson's side are now only three points behind leaders Stockport County with a game in hand, while second placed Mansfield are only two points ahead of Parkinson's side having played a match more.

There are 15 fixtures remaining, with Wrexham away at fifth placed MK Dons on Tuesday.

Parkinson made three changes from the side that started the midweek win against Sutton when Wrexham stopped the rot.

Ryan Barnett replaced Luke Bolton at right wing-back while James Jones came into midfield for George Evans who limped off with a glute injury at Gander Green Lane.

The other change was in attack where Paul Mullin came back into the team for Jack Marriott.

Just a minute was on the clock when County created the first chance but Arthur Okonkwo pulled off a superb save to keep out Macauley Langstaff's header from Dan Crowley's cross.

Eoghan O'Connell and Steven Fletcher both made vital clearances in the six yard box as County continued their bright start and put more pressure on Wrexham who saw Jones supply a teasing cross that was just beyond Fletcher at the other end.

That sparked Wrexham into life and they took the lead in the 20th minute.

Barnett, coming more into the game, sent in a cross that Fletcher was unable to get his head on but the striker reacted quickest under a challenge by smashing the ball into the net.

County came close to an immediate equaliser but Okonkwo got down low to brilliantly turn David McGoldrick's shot behind for a corner.

Jodi Jones' long range effort fell narrowly wide while Wrexham were given a let-off when the midfielder whipped in a cross which skimmed off O'Connell's head and hit the outside of the post.

But Wrexham had a chance following a decent move as Mullin floated in a cross that was nodded down by Fletcher and Jones fired over.

There was a penalty appeal as Mullin went down under Jaden Warner's challenge but it wasn't given and it remained 1-0 at the break.

Wrexham were on the front foot at the start of the second half and captain James McClean headed wide from Elliot Lee's corner

Fletcher saw an effort saved by goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond and with Wrexham continuing to press, Lee wasn't far away from finding the net with a header from Barnett's cross.

It was all Wrexham and Will Boyle came close to making it 2-0 when he met McClean's corner but his downward header bounced up and struck the crossbar.

County had a sight of goal when Wrexham failed to clear their lines and Scott Robertson's shot was well held by Okonkwo.

Wrexham were quickly back on the offensive and Mullin was denied by Ashby-Hammond while McClean hit the bar with a superb 25-yard volley.

The Reds needed a second goal to give themselves some breathing space but County had an equaliser ruled out after McGoldrick handled the ball in the area before finding the net.

County kept going till the end but Wrexham held on for another big win.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Okonkwo; Barnett (Mendy 78), Cleworth, O'Connell, Boyle, McClean; Jones (Young 88), Cannon, Lee; Mullin (Marriott 78), Fletcher (Palmer 78). Subs: McNicholas, Tozer, Bolton.

Notts County (Ashby-Hammond; Nemane, Warner (Macari 79), Baldwin, Cameron (Chicksen 79); Robertson (Austin 82), Bostock (Colkett 82); Jones, Crowley, Langstaff; McGoldrick. Subs not used: Stone, Rawlinson, O'Brien.

Attendance: 12,532 (1,147 from Notts County).