PAUL MULLIN scored a first-half hat-trick as Wrexham gave their League Two promotion challenge a huge boost by beating Accrington Stanley 4-0 at The Racecourse.

Mullin took his tally for the season to 16 goals and Elliot Lee also scored in a first half totally dominated by Phil Parkinson's side.

The Reds could have led by more and they continued to go for more goals in the second period as they played some good football and created chances.

Following a mixed February, it was the perfect way to start March when Wrexham will aim to remain on course for a top-three finish.

It's tight at the summit with Wrexham up to third, still three points behind leaders Mansfield Town and on the same tally as second placed Stockport whose game at Colchester was postponed.

Crewe dropped to fourth and are two points behind the Reds who have 11 fixtures remaining in the quest for a second successive promotion.

Parkinson made three changes from the side that started Tuesday's 1-1 draw against Forest Green Rovers.

Will Boyle replaced Aaron Hayden as one of the three centre-backs while Ollie Palmer took over from Steven Fletcher in attack.

Jacob Mendy came back into the left wing-back role, allowing James McClean to switch to midfield, with Luke Young missing out.

Eoghan O'Connell was a surprise inclusion in the team after he limped off with a calf injury at The New Lawn when Parkinson feared the worst, but the defender was passed fit.

Wrexham made a positive start and Max Cleworth headed wide from Lee's fourth minute corner.

There was an even better chance when Palmer raced onto O'Connell's brilliant ball over the top and the striker's shot was blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Radek Vitek.

Good inter-play between Palmer and Mullin ended with the former bringing a comfortable save out of Vitek but Wrexham took the lead in the 17th minute.

McClean and Max Cleworth kept possession on the left and played in Ryan Barnett whose cross was headed home by Mullin.

There was no let-up from Wrexham who saw Lee's curling effort fall wide and Mullin was played in on goal but he found the sidenetting after trying to chip Vitek.

However, the Reds made it 2-0 on 25 minutes.

McClean dispossessed Dan Martin with the ball running to Mullin who advanced forward and found the bottom corner with an excellent finish from 20 yards.

Just 10 minutes later and Mullin scored his and Wrexham's third goal of the contest.

Lee sent in a dangerous cross, which evaded Vitek and a defender, to the far post where Mullin headed into the back of the net to complete his hat-trick.

It got even better for Wrexham who went 4-0 up four minutes before half-time.

Lee fed Mullin who laid back off to the playmaker and he curled the ball past Vitek from just inside the area.

Wrexham kept going for more goals and Mullin's shot was parried by Vitek before the half-time whistle blew.

McClean's long range effort was too high when the action resumed and rampant Wrexham were in no mood to take their foot off the gas.

Mendy's cross to the far post fell for Barnett whose shot was parried by Vitek and Mullin brought another save out of the goalkeeper.

There was a rare chance for Accrington when Tommy Leigh tried his luck from 25 yards but Arthur Okonkwo got down low to palm the ball away.

Okonkwo also saved from Connor O'Brien but Wrexham were soon back on the attack and McClean's low drive fell narrowly wide.

Vitek then made a brilliant double save, firstly denying Lee before keeping out substitute Ben Tozer's follow-up.

Accrington should have reduced the deficit when O'Brien nodded down for Leslie Adekoya who got in before Okonkwo but fired over from close range.

Jack Marriott failed to hit the target for Wrexham while Accrington's afternoon got even more miserable in added time when they were reduced to 10-men when Lewis Shipley was shown a straight red card following a dreadful challenge on Andy Cannon.

Wrexham (5-3-2): Okonkwo; Barnett (Bolton 82), Cleworth, O'Connell (Tozer 69), Boyle, Mendy; McClean (Young 88), Cannon, Lee; Mullin (Marriott 82), Palmer (Fletcher 69). Subs not used: Howard, Davies.

Accrington Stanley (5-3-2): Vitek; O'Brien, Mellor, Pickles (Woods 46), Gubbins, Shipley; Leigh, Martin (Patrick 89), Nolan (Trickett 84); Adedoyin (Henderson 84), Whalley (Adekoya 60). Subs not used: McIntyre, Quirk.

Attendance: 12,209 (691 from Accrington).