Wrexham come unstuck: Red Dragons suffer defeat to Stevenage to fall further behind Birmingham at the top of League One

850 roaring Wrexham fans travelled over 170 miles to lend their voices at Broadhall Way but a whimpering first-half performance saw them leave the stadium crestfallen. Although the visitors made a bright start to the game with Jack Marriott getting an early sight of the goal, Stevenage soon gained control and took just 10 minutes to get their noses in front thanks to a Louis Thompson effort. The midfielder had time and space to shoot and after locking his target he unleashed a powerful strike that beat Arthur Okonkwo from a distance.

Even after taking the lead, Stevenage kept piling on the pressure and almost doubled their advantage in the fourteenth minute - but for a timely block from Eoghan O'Connell to deny Jamie Reid, while the rebound from Dan Butler was saved by Okonkwo. Although the early flourish from Stevenage settled down as the match wore on, Wrexham kept struggling to get a foothold in the match in the first half. They hardly won the second balls and looked out of ideas when they crossed the halfway line with the ball at their feet.

Wrexham came out more determined after the break as they whipped up several attacks in the first quarter of the second half. However, Stevenage kept their composure and weathered the storm which forced Phil Parkinson to make a triple change by throwing on Ollie Palmer, Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee for the final 25 minutes. The substitutes handed Wrexham a fresh impetus and despite their heroic perseverance, they failed to claw their way back into the match and succumbed to their second defeat of the campaign.

Thompson gave Stevenage an early lead with a brave effort from outside the box. He was not closed down by Wrexham defenders and the midfielder made them pay dearly.

It was a match of fine margins and Wrexham goalkeeper Okonkwo could have done much better to stop Thompson's strike. The shot-stopper was a fraction late in judging the flight and spin on the shot and his late dive to stop the ball from bulging the net was simply not enough.

Wrexham will have to pull their socks up as they are now five points behind league leaders Birmingham after the Blues beat Huddersfield at St Andrew's on Tuesday. Parkinson's men will be back in action next Saturday when they host Northampton Town at the Racecourse Ground.