WREXHAM climbed up to second in League One after beating Exeter City 3-0 at The Racecourse.

The Grecians arrived in north Wales with the best defensive record in the division - the Reds were second - but three headed goals secured victory.

Wrexham produced a superb first half performance and led 2-0 at the break through Max Cleworth, who scored his fifth goal of the campaign, and Ollie Palmer - on target for the third time this season.

Ollie Rathbone opened his account for Wrexham in the second half and Parkinson's men took over from Birmingham City in second place - four points behind leaders Wycombe - after Shrewsbury won 3-2 against the Blues.

Parkinson made four changes from the side that started the defeat at Stockport the previous weekend, with Lewis Brunt and Matty James making their full league debuts.

Brunt and Eoghan O'Connell came into the defence in place of Dan Scarr and Tom O'Connor who dropped to the substitutes bench.

With Andy Cannon serving a one-match ban after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend, Rathbone took over in midfield.

James, who replaced Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, played as the holding midfielder meaning Elliot Lee moved into a more advanced role just behind striker Ollie Palmer.

Just 25 seconds had gone when Wrexham lost possession, Jack Aitchison drove forward and Brunt made a vital block in the area to deny Ilmari Niskanen.

Cleworth then won Wrexham a corner from which the defender saw his effort blocked on the line.

Exeter were forced to defend a succession of corners and Wrexham took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute from a set-piece.

Lee delivered the flag-kick and Cleworth scored with a glancing header.

Wrexham continued to press and the corners kept coming with the Reds well on top.

Lee thought he had doubled the advantage midway through the half when he headed home James McClean's set-play but the goal was ruled out for offside.

But Wrexham soon made it 2-0 after 25 minutes.

Ryan Barnett sent in a brilliant cross from the right and Palmer headed past goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.

Wrexham had a penalty appeal turned down after McClean's cross appeared to have been handled in the area.

Exeter had been second best but the Grecians had a goal disallowed when Caleb Watts finished off Aitchison's brilliant through-ball but he was offside.

It remained 2-0 at the break and Exeter made a lively start to the second half but they were kept at bay following resolute defending.

A Grecians counter-attack ended with Watts' low drive blocked by Reds goalkeeper Callum Burton who made another good save to keep out a Josh Magennis header.

Wrexham responded with George Dobson's shot blocked in the area after good work by Palmer and substitute Paul Mullin, with Barnett's cross put behind.

And Wrexham went 3-0 up on 72 minutes from the resulting corner which was delivered by McClean and Rathbone found the net with a close range header. 

Palmer's curling effort fell narrowly wide and Mullin volleyed over from Barnett's cross as Wrexham pushed for more goals but they had done more than enough.

 

Wrexham: (3-5-2): Burton; Cleworth, O'Connell, Brunt; Barnett, Dobson, James (Revan 90), Rathbone (O'Connor 79), McClean; Lee (Mullin 70), Palmer (Bodvarsson 79) Subs not used: Howard, Scarr, Faal.

Exeter City (3-4-1-2): Whitworth; Sweeney, Crama, Purrington (Cox 46); Niskanen, McMillan, Francis, Watts (Mitchell 60); Doyle (Bird 77); Aitchison (McDonald 77), Magennis (MacDonald 85). Subs not used: Fitzwater, Alli.

Attendance: 12,484 (1,270 from Exeter).