Wrexham start pre-season tour with Melbourne win

Wrexham are preparing for their first season in the second tier since 1981-82

Wrexham started their pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand with an impressive 3-0 win against last season's A-League grand final runners-up Melbourne Victory.

Tom O'Connor, debutant Ryan Hardie and George Evans all netted at the Marvel Stadium as Phil Parkinson's side began their tour Down Under in style.

The opening stages were relatively even as Arthur Okonkwo kept out Clarismario Santos' low strike before palming away a Zinédine Machach shot.

Jack Duncan then had to be at full stretch to tip over Dan Scarr's header before Seb Revan volleyed into the side netting.

Wrexham grew stronger as the half wore on, with Duncan producing a fine fingertip save to claw away Max Cleworth's acrobatic effort.

The Red Dragons' pressure told just before half-time as O'Connor drilled into the net from Duncan's punched clearance.

Summer signings Hardie and Danny Ward - who joined from Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City respectively - were among those to feature for Wrexham in the second half as Parkinson made wholesale changes.

The hosts were unfortunate not to level straight after the restart as Louis D'Arrigo's thumping hit rattled the crossbar.

Wrexham came agonisingly close to doubling their lead as Harry Ashfield nodded James McClean's cross against the woodwork on the hour mark.

But the tourists did make it 2-0 in the 67th minute as Ryan Barnett's driven cross was turned into the net by Hardie for the striker's first goal in Wrexham colours.

And the Welsh side capped off a stylish win as Evans' shot from 25 yards out squirmed under the body of Victory's substitute goalkeeper Daniel Graskoski late on.

Wrexham face Sydney FC at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday, 15 July (10:30 BST) before concluding their tour against Wellington Phoenix at the Sky Stadium on Saturday, 19 July (06:30 BST).

Parkinson's side start their 2025-26 Championship campaign at Southampton on Saturday, 9 August (12:30 BST).

They will host West Bromwich Albion in their first home league fixture of the new season a week later (12:30 BST).