PAUL RUTHERFORD wants Wrexham to capitalise on being top of the National League and try to cement their position as leaders.

Wrexham beat Gateshead 3-1 on Saturday to extend the unbeaten run to nine games and hit top-spot for the first time since the start of September.

Stints at the summit were short-lived last season but Wrexham will be the team to catch for a fortnight as the Reds visit Weston-super-Mare in the FA Cup this Sunday.

Rutherford has welcomed the break from league action and says the Reds will be looking to pick up where they left off after their cup tie.

"It is the best position to be in and I think it is important now that we come to terms with that," said Rutherford.

"Last season when we got to the top a couple of times, we didn't capitalise on the next game and slipped off the top.

"I think it is a good thing that we have got the little break; we can come to terms with seeing ourselves at the top, not get carried away by it and not panic by it, and enjoy the status of being top.

"We start again at Maidstone and really look to push on, and try and set the pace ourselves.

"It is important now that we look to try and get little gaps between ourselves and the next target.

"Between us and 10th it is probably a 10 point gap and hopefully we can have the same over the play-offs soon, and then we can look to do that between the chasing pack."

Although the promotion challenge is the priority, Rutherford would like to embark on a good cup run and feels Sam Ricketts' squad has strength in depth to maintain interest in all competitions.

"We have got the ability in the squad to go and challenge on three fronts," said Rutherford.

"We have got a talented XI no matter what side the manager puts out.

"There are lads who haven't been involved so far that can come and make an impact.

"That is the difference from last year. When the manager wanted to rest a few last year, he didn't have the depth in numbers to come in and sustain the quality, without being disrespectful to anyone.

"This time, if you take any one of the XI out, someone equally as good can come in, make an impact and make their claim for a start."

Rutherford hailed the performance against Gateshead and felt Wrexham were on the front throughout.

"I thought we had a good measure of control on the game," said Rutherford.

"If you look back to Hartlepool and Chesterfield, we were really on the backfoot at stages in those games and the opposition were in the ascendancy,

"Against Gateshead, we looked the more dangerous throughout and we were the dominant side."