IT should have been a lot easier than it was as Wrexham fell over the finishing line to claim another win.

High-flying Wrexham registered a 1-0 victory over 10-man Hartlepool United but it was far from routine despite looking well set after Luke Young once again made his mark.

The in-form midfielder scored his third goal in five games in the 21st minute to give his side the lead.

And when Hartlepool captain Andrew Davies was deservedly given his marching orders just before the break, it looked good for Sam Ricketts' side.

But the visitors, who had only lost three times this season going into the game, made a real game of it and looked the team more likely to score in the second half.

Wrexham were hanging on despite having a man more and having conceded an injury time equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Chesterfield on Saturday, were in danger of again having to settle for a draw.

But the Reds held on to maintain the unbeaten home record and there was the added bonus of climbing up to second position in the table on the same number of points as leaders Salford United.

However, Ricketts knows an improvement will be needed in the coming weeks for Wrexham to maintain their lofty position.

The starting line-up showed three changes from the side that started the weekend stalemate with Chesterfield.

Midfielder Luke Summerfield failed to recover from injury but James Jennings returned at left-back in place of Mark Carrington, who limped off with an ankle problem at the Proact Stadium.

The other two changes both in attack with Jordan Maguire-Drew and Stuart Beavon taking over from Paul Rutherford and Mike Fondop, both of whom were named among the substitutes.

Wrexham settled quicker and had the first sight of goal in the ninth minute.

Luke Young, keen to add to his recent goals, saw his shot save saved by keeper Scott Loach and Maguire-Drew headed the rebound over the bar.

A Maguire-Drew free-kick was also parried by Loach but Hartlepool quickly countered and Rob Lainton made a smart save to deny Marcus Dinanga before stopping Niko Muir's header on the goalline from the resulting corner.

Hartlepool almost paid the price following sloppy play in their own area as Akil Wright fired narrowly wide but Wrexham took the lead in the 21st minute.

Neat interplay led to Young receiving the ball and the midfielder ran at goal before unleashing a low drive from 25 yards that beat Loach with the hint of a deflection.

Shaun Pearson was off target with a header while Kevin Roberts did well to close down Ryan Donaldson who fired wide when Pools quickly countered.

The lively Donaldson also brought a save out of Lainton but Hartlepool found themselves with 10 men in the 40th minute.

Beavon fouled Andrew Davies but the Hartlepool captain reacted by headbutting the Reds striker and referee Martin Woods had no hesitation in brandishing a red card.

Wrexham wasted no time in trying to make the most of the numerical advantage and Maguire-Drew managed to get a shot away in the area but Peter Kioso made a vital block on the goalline and Wright was unable to put the loose ball away with the final action of the first half.

Jake Lawlor went close to making it 2-0 in the early exchanges of the second period and Wright, getting into some good positions, screwed another effort wide.

Lainton almost made a hash of a Liam Noble shot but the ball thankfully fell wide of the mark as Hartlepool showed they were still in the game.

Ricketts made his first change on 59 minutes with Fondop taking over from Beavon but Wrexham were unable to seize the initiative as 10-man Hartlepool made a game of it.

Wrexham were being pushed back by the visitors and not doing enough with the ball when they got it, not threatening that crucial second goal that was much needed.

Rutherford replaced Brad Walker with nine minutes to go and Nicky Deverdics soon came on for Maguire-Drew as Wrexham sought to make sure of three points.

They should have been far more comfortable than they were and almost conceded an equaliser as the game reached injury time, Lainton making a superb save to deny Conor Newton.

Donaldson only just cleared the bar for Hartlepool with the last chance of the game and Wrexham breathed a sigh of relief.