By Tom Norris
It is early days yet, but the signs are good for Dean Saunders’ side.
The men from The Racecourse looked lively throughout this tough test and even the early departure of injured striker Marc Williams failed to dampen their spirits.
Saunders has said all along that he needs time to build a team that he can call his own and on this evidence that is not too far away.
New signings and talented youngsters have been moulded together under the Wales coach and, given time, they can mount a serious push for promotion this season.
Wrexham, wearing their white away strip, enjoyed the opening 45 minutes as their passion and energy swamped a Preston outfit, who looked sluggish and short of fitness.
New signing Hedi Taboubi was the main creator for Wrexham, passing and probing from his central midfield position.
Another new boy, Adrian Cieslewicz was lively and always looking to beat the offside trap, while Mark Jones and Neil Taylor provided good width.Within six minutes of the start Saunders’ men had carved out their first goalscoring opportunity, Andy Fleming playing a pass to Taboubi, who sent an excellent raking ball to Marc Williams on the left, the striker crossed to Cieslewicz, but he was denied a path to goal and the ball went out for a corner.
The Reds then took the lead from the flag kick as Silvio Spann’s centre caused havoc in the Preston defence.The initial cross found Taboubi, via Fleming, on the edge of the area, he gave it back to Spann, and from his second bite of the cherry he found the head of Mansour Assoumani six yards from goal, the big defender doing the rest with aplomb.
Marc Williams limped off shortly after the celebrations died down and Saunders sent on trialist Matty Wolfenden in his place.
The switch failed to null Wrexham’s attacking threat as Jones fired over from 25-yards and Spann saw another centre flash agonisingly across Nicky Weaver’s goalmouth.Preston finally managed an attack soon after, Chris Sedgwick stinging the hands of Chris Maxwell from distance.
Alan Irvine’s men had caused few problems for the Reds’ defence up until Sedgwick’s strike, but this seemed to spur them in to action and Eddie Nolan fired a weak effort at Maxwell’s goal, while new skipper Callum Davidson miss-kicked when played in after a quickly taken flag kick.
Nolan then forced a smart low save out of Maxwell after a neat interchange with Karl Hawley.
Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor was next to have a go as he used his strength to out-muscle Assoumani and Sam Williamson before firing inches wide of the right upright.
After soaking up the Championship side’s pressure, Wrexham found their foothold in the game once more, Taylor seeing a chip fail to trouble Weaver, before Wolfenden fired in a smart shot on the turn, only to see the former Manchester City stopper brilliantly tip round the post.
The hard working and pacey Cieslewicz then highlighted his undoubted ability by leaving two defenders for dead and firing a smart left-footed drive at Weaver who was equal to the task and fisted the ball clear.
Preston were able to come forward for one last time as the enterprising Sedgwick found the head of Mellor, but he failed to generate any power and Maxwell gathered comfortably.
There were two different approaches at half-time with Saunders happy to to make just one change as former Preston player Nathan Fairhurst replaced Taboubi.
On the other hand, Irvine rang the changes by bringing on his big guns with Richard Chaplow, Ross Wallace, Jon Parkin, and Chris Brown in place of Neil Trotman, Mellor, Hawley and Adam Barton.
However the changes failed to spark any life into Preston as Cieslewicz went close once more, the teenager driving into the box having picked up the ball on the halfway line and firing at Weaver, who denied a second Wrexham goal.
Slowly but surely Preston found their footing in the game, Chaplow stamping his mark on the game with the equaliser.
When Sam Williamson failed to clear a ball any further than Sedgwick, the former Rotherham winger delivered an excellent cross and the ex-Burnley player headed the visitors level.
Williamson soon found himself out of the action as Saunders brought on promising defender Kai Edwards and switched to a 3-5-2 formation.Preston were looking increasingly likely to grab the next goal, but Wrexham and Cieslewicz were always dangerous in attack, the Pole curling an effort straight at Weaver.
Fleming then fired a drive over the North End bar, before Brown forced Maxwell into a smart low save from eight yards at the other end.Again Cieslewicz went close, hitting the side netting with an acrobatic effort after Spann sent in another teasing cross.Cieslewicz then received a deserved standing ovation when he finally made way for Wes Baynes with two minutes left.
And with time running out, Parkin went agonisingly close to sneaking a late Preston winner, while Brown saw another chance clear the Wrexham bar.
The referee brought an end to proceedings with supporters of both teams giving the players a warm send off.
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