PHIL PARKINSON felt Wrexham lacked quality and composure in the first half against Stockport County and paid the price for allowing their rivals to dictate the opening period at Edgeley Park.

The Reds' five-game unbeaten run in League One came to an end following a disappointing 1-0 defeat with Louie Barry's stunning 24th minute strike sealing victory for the Hatters.

County dictated the first 45 minutes and could have led by more at the break with goalkeeper Callum Burton, who replaced the injured Arthur Okonkwo, pulling off a string of fine saves.

Burton also came to the rescue in the second half when Parkinson saw an improvement but the damage had been down after his side were too passive before the interval.

“In the first half I thought we were too far off them in the midfield and we let their two central midfield players dictate the game, which is disappointing," said the Reds' boss, whose side remain third in the table.

“We just couldn’t get up to them quick enough and we lacked composure in our game in that first half, in a real derby atmosphere.

“We’d spoken about competing and being physical and playing a way to get a foothold in the game but we needed to have more composure in terms of our clearances, and in our quality and our decision-making.

“There just wasn’t enough quality and composure from us in that first half. In the second half we were a lot better. We started playing, we started getting passes away.

"In the first half, we just weren't where we needed to be at this level of game.

"The lad scored a wonder goal which we know he is capable of doing to give them a huge lift but second half was loads better.

"Callum still had to make a couple of good saves when we were chasing it a bit but we still had some moments where we could have got a draw from the game.

“It’s been a good run and it’s frustrating that it’s ended because this game means a lot to both teams, the way we have competed over the years.

"Unfortunately it wasn’t to be today, so we move on to next week.”

Parkinson made a triple change in the 62nd minute and there was an improvement from Wrexham but Parkinson admits his side didn't create enough chances.

"I thought the lads who came on did okay," he added.

"Second half we had a period where I thought we were going to get back in it but when you have those good periods, you need to score like they did.

"We had periods of really good control and Elliot Lee's header which Paul Mullin just misses is a moment.

"If we had got back in the game and got the momentum with us, you felt we had them on the rack a little bit without creating lots of chances but they are a good team and, like ourselves, they have got a sound defensive record."