Wrexham striker Jack Marriott has smashed a much-needed hat-trick in a Central League clash against Salford City on Tuesday afternoon.
Wrexham’s last two league games haven’t really gone to plan.
A 0-0 draw with Harrogate Town was a major disappointment and the frustration only grew with a 1-0 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers.
Phil Parkinson needs to regroup and go again with promotion on the line, but he was able to feature a host of fringe players against Salford City on Tuesday.
Wrexham hosted Salford in a Central League clash STōK Cae Ras, held behind closed doors.
This was a thumping win as Wrexham ran out 7-1 victors having named an incredibly strong side.
Jack Marriott hits timely hat-trick
A number of experienced players were in action, picking up key minutes for the final stages of the season.
Mark Howard, Aaron Hayden, Ben Tozer, Jordan Tunnicliffe, James McClean, Callum McFadzean and Sam Dalby were all in action, as was Thomas O’Connor as he ramps up his return from injury.
Jack Marriott started too, having been missing from Saturday’s defeat to Tranmere.
Marriott’s participation means it’s incredibly likely that he was just left out over the weekend, which isn’t ideal at all.
Wrexham signed Marriott as an experienced striker who could come in and make an instant impact in the push for promotion.
Marriott hasn’t really got going yet but he smashed a hat-trick against Salford to show Parkinson what he can do in front of goal.
Dalby bagged a brace whilst Tunnicliffe and Jordan Davies also found the net in an easy victory for Wrexham.
To name a reserve side with that kind of strength and experience is pretty impressive and a few players will hope to have done enough to push themselves into contention against Grimsby Town this weekend.
Marriott will be at the top of that list, especially having seen Wrexham draw two successive blanks in front of goal.
There is a big difference between scoring against Salford’s reserves and scoring against League Two defences, but Tuesday’s hat-trick will hopefully give Marriott the momentum to start shining at Wrexham.