WREXHAM bounced back from a first League One defeat of the season by beating Crawley Town 2-1 at The Racecourse to remain top of the table.

Phil Parkinson's side took 13 points from their opening five games before losing 3-1 at big-spending Birmingham City on Monday.

But the Reds got back to winning ways with goals in each half from Elliot Lee and Max Cleworth sinking Crawley who were in no mood to sit back and had a real go.

Lee gave Wrexham the lead at the break but Crawley, who created far more chances in the opening period, equalised early in the second half.

However, Wrexham clinched three points thanks to Cleworth's winner with 11 minutes remaining.

Parkinson made two changes from the side that started the defeat at Birmingham,

Andy Cannon replaced Ollie Rathbone in midfield with Paul Mullin coming into attack for top scorer Jack Marriott.

Crawley had a chance to take an early lead following Eoghan O'Connell's mistake which allowed Will Swan to run at goal but he fired wide.

There was another opportunity for the visitors when George Dobson's sloppy pass was cut-out by Swan who got away but saw his shot saved by Arthur Okonkwo.

Wrexham responded with Tom O'Connor putting in an in-swinging corner which was clawed away on his line by keeper Jo Wollacott.

But it was Wrexham who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute.

Another superb in-swinging corner by O'Connor was palmed out by Wollacott under his crossbar, Cleworth put ball back into the danger-zone and Lee converted.

Max Anderson dragged a shot wide for Crawley while James McClean failed to hit the target at the other end after being played in by Cannon.

However, the Reds were indebted to Okonkwo for keep them ahead when he got down low to deny Swan.

And there was a big let-off for Wrexham just before the break when Armando Junior Quitirna rounded Okonkwo but fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Mullin's free-kick from outside the area went wide at the start of the second half but Crawley levelled in the 54th minute.

The ball was slid through to Quitirna who slotted past Okonkwo.  

Both teams went in search of a winner with Mullin unable to keep a volley down from McClean's cross.

Crawley came close when Roman Darcy's deflected effort was brilliantly kept out of Okonkwo while Lee fired wide for the Reds when the ball came out to him from a cross.

But Wrexham made it 2-1 in the 79th minute.

Dobson delivered a cross to the back post and Cleworth directed his header past Wollacott.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy was well-placed but fired over for Crawley in added time before Lee cleared the bar and Marriott ran at goal, bringing a good save out of Wollacott, and it finished 2-1 to Wrexham.

Wrexham (3-5-2): Okonkwo; Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Connor; Barnett, Cannon (Evans 80), Dobson, Lee, McClean (Revan 71); Mullin (Marriott 71), Palmer (Fletcher 64). Subs not used: Burton, Scarr, Rathbone.

Crawley Town (5-2-3): Wollacott; Quitirna (Adeyemo 68), Mullarkey, Mukena, Flint, Kelly; Anderson (Bragg 62), Williams; Camara, Darcy (Showunmi 81), Swan (Hepburn-Murphy 62). Subs not used: Beach, Barker, Ibrahim.

Attendance: 12,732 (232 from Crawley).