NEWPORT COUNTY stand between Wrexham reaching the third round of the FA Cup for just the fourth time since 2000.

The Reds earned a reputation as cup giantkillers under Brian Flynn and even reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the third time in the club's history in 1997.

Although Wrexham are flying high in the National League, they take on a Newport side who are also going well in the division above but Mark Carrington, the longest serving player in the Wrexham squad, has set his sights on victory.

"Getting through to the second round is always good in the FA Cup," said Carrington.

"We have drawn a team from a league above us which will give us a good chance to pit our wits and see where we are as a team.

"The third round is where everybody wants to get to and see if you can draw a big boy or go even further and get a big one after that.

"It will be an exciting tie against Newport and one we are looking to win."

Wrexham, beaten in the third round by Derby County in 2007 and Brighton five years later, last got to that stage under Kevin Wilkin during the 2014-15 campaign when Carrington played a starring role.

Carrington's 73rd minute header put Wrexham 1-0 up at then-Premier League side Stoke City who had the likes of Jack Butland, Jon Walters and Peter Crouch on display.

Mark Hughes' men struck three times in the final 10 minutes to avoid an upset, but Carrington will never forget scoring in front of nearly 5,000 travelling supporters at The Britannia Stadium.

"When this time of year comes around it gets brought up again," said Carrington. "The videos will be out again!

"It was a great moment and one of the best of my career.

"It is what dreams are made of and in front of the end that was packed out.

"To go 1-0 up as well, it gave us a bit of belief that we could have gone on and done something but it wasn't to be.

"But it was a good day and it would be nice if we could go and do something like that again."

Until this season, Wrexham had failed to win a match in the competition since progressing to that meeting with Stoke.

Lower league sides Gainsborough Trinity and Stamford have dumped Wrexham out, and the Reds exited in the fourth qualifying round for a third successive year when they lost 1-0 at AFC Fylde 12 months ago.

But Sam Ricketts' side beat National League rivals Harrogate Town on a replay at the first hurdle and then overcame Weston-super-Ware from the division below to set up an all-Welsh affair with Newport.

Utility player Carrington hopes Wrexham can continue their run and possibly land a money-spinning third round tie.

"We have not done so well since Stoke, we have come unstuck against some lower league sides and Fylde last year from our league," added Carrington.

"There is a magic still about the FA Cup and when you get a chance to pit your wits against the big sides if you manage to get that far then it is always good.

"It is a good day out for the club, for the fans, and a good chance to show what you can do so we will be trying to get as far as we can."