A memorable 2023 ended with Wrexham suffering a 3-1 defeat against Walsall at The Bescot Stadium.

It was a year in which Phil Parkinson's men clinched the National League title and return to the Football League following a 15-year absence.

The Reds have gone from strength and strength this season and although they are among the League Two pacesetters challenging for a second successive promotion, the three-game winning run came to an end against Walsall.

Despite losing for just the fourth time in 24 games, Wrexham are still third in the table and five points behind leaders Stockport with a game in hand.

Parkinson made two changes from the side that started the 1-0 win away to Swindon Town on Boxing Day.

Captain Luke Young and striker Paul Mullin took over from James Jones, who was serving a one-match ban following his dismissal at The County Ground, and Anthony Forde.

That meant James McClean - the match-winner against Swindon after playing in attack - returned to his normal left wing-back position with Jacob Mendy switching back to the right.

Young came into midfield for Jones with Mullin partnering Sam Dalby up front while Jake Bickerstaff, another frontman who was absent at Swindon through illness, was named among the substitutes.

It was Young who had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute but his shot from outside the area fell wide while Mullin's attempt lacked pace and was easily gathered by keeper Jackson Smith.

Issac Hutchinson's 25 yard drive only just cleared the bar for Walsall but the home side took the lead after 16 minutes.

Jack Earing made a run down the left and took a return pass from Freddie Draper before slotting past Arthur Okonkwo.

There was another opportunity for Walsall when a cross was floated into the area but Jamille Matt didn't get enough on his header which failed to hit the target.

However, Wrexham were back on level terms on 24 minutes.

Mullin saw his shot handled in the area by Tom Knowles and the striker despatched the resulting penalty.

Wrexham came close to going ahead on the half-hour mark when Smith fumbled Young's corner but Mullin fired over from close range.

Mullin also ran in behind the Walsall defence but his effort was blocked by Smith and it remained all square at the break.

Walsall made a lively start to the second half and Liam Gordon's drive was deflected wide for a corner from which Okonkwo made a great save to deny Douglas James-Taylor.

Back came Wrexham and Ben Tozer's header was cleared off the line onto the crossbar by Priestley Farquharson from McClean's free-kick.

But Walsall took the lead on the hour mark after Andy Cannon fouled Hutchinson outside the area.

Hutchinson stepped up and curled his 20-yard free-kick over the wall past Okonkwo.

Parkinson immediately made a triple change with Jordan Davies, Steven Fletcher and Forde replacing Young, Dalby and Mendy.

Smith made a brilliant save to turn Mullin's shot around the post and Elliot Lee was also thwarted by the Saddlers stopper.

But Walsall continued to carry a threat and Hutchinson went close before Donervon Daniels' effort hit Taylor Allen but Okonkwo did well to make a save.

Mullin wasn't far away from equalising when his 25-yard strike hit the underside of the bar and came back out but Walsall made it 3-1 seven minutes from time.

David Okagbue ran clear and with Okonkwo drawn, his ball found Allen who slotted into an open net to seal victory.

Walsall (5-3-2): Smith; Knowles, Okagbue, Farquharson, Daniels, Gordon; Hutchinson, Conley, Earing (Allen 75); Draper, Matt (James-Taylor 46). Subs not used: Evans, Foulkes, Maher, Williams, Johnson.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Okonkwo; Mendy (Forde 61), Cleworth (Barnett 82), Tozer, O'Connor, McClean; Young (Davies 61), Cannon, Lee; Mullin, Dalby (Fletcher 61). Subs not used: Howard, Boyle, Bickerstaff.

Attendance: 8,709 (2,258 from Wrexham).