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Sam Smith has lift-off! New Wrexham signing bags first goal to fire Red Dragons to crucial victory over Northampton

League One

Mansfield

Wrexham

Northampton

Barnsley

<p>Wrexham took the lead in the 19th minute when January signing Smith raced onto a Mark Howard ball over the top, before slotting home to score his first goal for his new team.</p><p>Oliver Rathbone doubled the visitors' lead three minutes later when he scored a scrappy goal as the ball eventually went in off the post.</p><p>James McClean's corner then hit the post, before Rathbone fired just wide as the Welsh side deservedly went into the break two goals to the good.</p><p>Northampton improved in the second half, which also involved a scuffle late on between both teams, but never really looked like threatening the Red Dragons' goal at Sixfields Stadium.</p><p>Parkinson's men remain third in League One, one point behind second-placed Wycombe Wanderers and eight adrift of runaway leaders Birmingham City.</p>

TELL ME MORE

<p>While Eoghan O'Connell put in a confident display at the back and Rathbone was busy throughout, <strong>Smith</strong> took his first Wrexham goal with aplomb and led his team's attack well. Parkinson will hope that is the first of many from the 26-year-old.</p>

THE MVP

<p>Despite having much of the ball in the second half, <strong>Northampton</strong> as a whole barely laid a glove on Wrexham. They failed to register a single shot on target against a side who are not nearly as strong on the road.</p>

THE BIG LOSER

<p>Wrexham will look to kick on from this result when they host League One play-off hopefuls Leyton Orient on Tuesday night at Stok Cae Ras.</p>

WHAT COMES NEXT?

MATCH RATING (OUT OF FIVE): ⭐⭐⭐

Sam Smith has lift-off! New Wrexham signing bags first goal to fire Red Dragons to crucial victory over Northampton | Goal.com

Sam Smith opened his Wrexham account as Phil Parkinson&apos;s side closed the gap on League One&apos;s top two with a comfortable 2-0 win at Northampton Town.

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