WREXHAM progressed to the FA Cup first round following a 3-2 against Blyth Spartans but Phil Parkinson's men didn't make it easy for themselves.

The Reds faced Blyth in a fourth qualifying round replay at The Racecourse after Saturday's first meeting between the sides ended in a 1-1 draw.

National League North outfit Blyth were the better side at Croft Park but Wrexham put the record straight in the first half in front of nearly 6,900 fans, the club's highest FA Cup attendance since the visit of Brighton in 2012.

It was a job well done as Wrexham built up a three-goal lead by the break, taking their chances with some brilliant finishing following some impressive attacking play.

Wrexham, who had a real off day in the north easy at the weekend, showed Reds' supporters in American who were watching the game live on television just what they are capable of.

But they switched off at the start of the second half and took their foot off the gas as poor defending allowed Blyth to come back into the game with two quickfire goals.

The Reds didn't hit the heights of the opening period and despite it being a game of two halves, Wrexham held on for victory in the end to maintain their interest in the competition.

Parkinson made six changes from the side that started Saturday's stalemate between the sides as the Reds' boss once again freshened things up and rested players for the FA Cup.

Anthony Forde and Liam McAlinden took over from Bryce Hosannah and Callum McFadzean in the wing-back positions while Jordan Tunnicliffe - making his first start since joining Wrexham from Crawley in the summer - and Max Cleworth replaced Aaron Hayden and Tom O'Connor at centre-back.

The other two changes were in attack with first choice strikers Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer returning in place of Elliot Lee and Sam Dalby who dropped to the substitutes bench along with the other four players who were in the team at the weekend.

Wrexham made the early running and Palmer failed to hit the target with the Reds' second corner delivered by Luke Young in the opening exchanges.

There was a chance for Blyth when JJ O'Donnell beat Cleworth but cleared the bar with his shot.

However, the Reds took the lead in the ninth minute.

Mullin picked the ball up and ran to the by-line before delivering a pass to Palmer who scored with a cheeky backheel from close range.

It was 2-0 just three minutes later as Mullin got in on the act.

The Reds' leading scorer found the back of the net with a well-placed header from Forde's cross.

Wrexham, well on top, continued to press with Jordan Davies and Mullin combining well to find Palmer whose cross was blocked for a corner.

Palmer headed wide from Young's flag-kick, while Blyth showed they weren't giving up and Jordan Hickey wasn't far away with a cross that just went wide of the far post.

The Reds looked more likely to trouble the scoreline and the lively Forde played a one-two with Mullin but the wing-back saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Alex Mitchell.

Michael Richardson, who scored Blyth's late equaliser on Saturday, fired a long range drive straight at Reds' goalkeeper Mark Howard.

But Wrexham scored a third goal on 39 minutes.

Ben Tozer's free-kick was flicked on by Davies, the ball cannoned off Richardson back to the midfielder who slotted past Mitchell.

The last chance of the first half fell for Blyth but Richardson's free-kick was saved by Howard.

Blyth had a sight of goal when the action resumed but Howard made a smart block with his legs to deny O'Donnell following a neat move.

However, Blyth pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute.

O'Donnell was allowed to run unchallenged and he fired low past Howard.

Blyth continued to threaten, with Wrexham putting themselves under unnecessary pressure, and the visitors made it 3-2 after 56 minutes.

Wrexham failed to clear their lines following a corner and Richardson beat Howard.

After riding the storm, Wrexham responded with Jones firing wide.

The game reached injury-time when Mullin's shot was saved by Mitchell from Hosannah's pass.

Wrexham shouldn't have been hanging on and Richardson fluffed his lines from inside the area with the Reds able to breathe a sigh of relief when the final whistle blew.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Howard; Forde, Tunnicliffe, Tozer (Hayden 46), Cleworth, McAlinden (Hosannah 72); Jones, Young, Davies (O'Connor 81); Mullin, Palmer. Subs not used: Watson, McFadzean, Lee, Dalby.

Blyth Spartans (4-2-3-1): Mitchell; Richardson, Lees, Elsdon, Evans; Ravenhill, Deverdics; O'Donnell, Hickey, Cornish (Joisce 73); McKeown. Subs not used: Gilles, Dopson, Alexander.

Attendance: 6,845 (246 from Blyth).