BROTHERS IN ARMS; Mike & Marc make history as team spirit earns Dean third win on trot.

Byline: By MARK CURRIE Chief Sports Writer at Field Mill

IT was one of those 1 was there' occasions for the 529 Wrexham fans who travelled to Field Mill on Saturday as brothers Mike and Marc Williams wrote themselves into the Racecourse record books by becoming the first brothers in the club's history to score in the same match.

Their goals put the Dragons duo in exalted company alongside Bobby and Jack Charlton, who both netted for England in a 5-1 victory over Wales way back in 1966, but more importantly they earned a third straight win for manager Dean Saunders.

Former international striker Saunders has hit the ground running in the latest phase of a distinguished career and extended his unblemished record to date despite being forced by circumstances to shuffle his pack both before and during the game.

Injuries to Jefferson Louis and Andy Fleming had robbed Saunders of two key figures in the previous win against York City and the rigours of the afternoon added two more casualties to an ever-growing list as both Carl Tremarco and goal-scorer Mike were forced off either side of the interval.

But the Racecourse boss, who has clearly injected a fresh sense of purpose and enthusiasm into his squad, doesn't do excuses and the players he called upon to maintain the standards he has set were not found wanting.

Given their chance, both Michael Proctor and Levi Mackin came in and played crucial roles in another solid team performance, while Silvio Spann shrugged off the effects of his trans-Atlantic travels to demonstrate he is also keen to grab the career lifeline offered by the managerial change.

Proctor, who set up Wrexham's winner and went close to adding a spectacular third, was among those singled out for praise by Saunders and the striker admitted he was again enjoying life at the Racecourse after being marginalised by previous boss Brian Little.

"It's the first 90 minutes I've had for a long time - I think I've only started one other game this season - so it's nice to be involved again," he said.

"Even though I was starting to feel it in the last 10 minutes I enjoyed it, especially with us getting the win.

"I thought it was a good performance because we had to dig in a bit. We knew Mansfield would come at us and try and bombard us with crosses, but I thought we worked really hard and we knew that eventually our chances would come."

And Proctor said he was pleased to have been involved in the history-making performance by the two brothers.

"I'm delighted for them both," he added. "The first was a set piece we have worked on in training. The gaffer said he thought we would score from a set piece and it was an excellent header from Mike.

"Then Marc showed great upper body strength and produced a tidy little finish, so it was great for them."

But in addition to bringing the best out of players who had been virtually discarded, Saunders has also displayed a so-far unerring ability to spot - then try to fix - the squad's deficiencies.

On loan midfielder Joe Allen followed his impressive debut 12 days earlier with another fine outing in which the teenager displayed a maturity beyond his years for a contest that demanded as much bravery as skill.

And newly-signed defender Ashley Westwood brought steel and stability to the back four in a manner that revived memories of Gareth Davies in his heyday. The 32-year-old veteran marshalled and organised his fellow defenders with authority and his anticipation more than made up for any erosion of pace.

Leading by example, Westwood's first tackle of the game was spot-on and stopped former Racecourse winger Michael Blackwood in his tracks following the winger's penetrating run that had taken him past two Wrexham players.

A battle featuring the two worst sides in the Football League last season was always going to be about a little more than the three points at stake so it was frenetic at times and defender Maxime Chanot was fortunate to escape a booking after only five minutes when he bundled Marc Williams out of a promising goal scoring opportunity.

It was the opening round of a fascinating contest, Wrexham's teenage striker eventually coming out a convincing winner, but in the wider context the home side drew first blood with the opening goal in the 26th minute.

Having successfully defended a corner, Mansfield took full advantage of a careless touch from Simon Brown and knocked the ball forward for loan striker Emile Sinclair to chase.

Spann, who had replaced the injured Tremarco just three minutes earlier, won the race, but his attempted back-pass to Gavin Ward was woefully under hit and Sinclair was able to round the keeper and fire into an empty net.

The lead, however, was short-lived and the Dragons were back on equal terms within five minutes when a Mike Williams header from Wes Baynes' corner gave Paddy Gamble no chance and brought the defender his first goal for the Dragons.

Mansfield - with four defeats in their previous five openings - suddenly looked vulnerable and Alen Jeannin did well to deny Marc Williams, Proctor squandered a superb opportunity when he headed wide from a pin-point Neil Taylor centre and Westwood ventured up field to send a looping effort over the crossbar.

But it was not until the 57th minute that Wrexham got their noses in front.

Spann was involved with a telling pass to Proctor whose reverse pass left Williams with a lot to do.

But the youngster eased Chanot out of his way, took a touch to improve the angle and then comprehensively beat the keeper from 10 yards to register his fourth goal in the last three matches.

Home boss Billy McEwan's response was to replace veteran striker Mark Stallard with the equally experienced Jason Lee and within five minutes Saunders had countered by introducing Steve Evans for Brown.

But Wrexham were then forced into another defensive shuffle when Mike Williams, who had been treated minutes earlier after a clash of heads, was unable to continue and was helped to the dressing room suffering from delayed concussion.

Nevertheless the visitors went close to increasing their leadwith the bestmove of the afternoon in the 78th minute.

Allen's 40-yard pass picked out Spann, who played in the overlapping Baynes. His centre was met perfectly by Proctor's volley, but Gamble flung himself to his left to save.

That gave the home side hope and they pressed forward, but the visitors held firm to give their manager a perfect nine points out of nine as Wrexham prepare to make history again this weekend with a first appearance in the FA Cup qualifiers.

MANSFIELD TOWN 1

Sinclair 29

WREXHAM 2

Mike Williams 32, Marc Williams 57

MANSFIELD: Gamble; Silk, Chanot (Robinson 86), Moses, Jeannin; Arnold, Wedgebury (Hurren 43), D'Laryea, Blackwood; Stallard (Lee 61), Sinclair. Subs: Somner, Knight. BOOKED: Chanot.

WREXHAM: Ward 7; Baynes 7, Westwood 9, Mike Williams 7 (Aiston 76), Tremarco 6 (Spann 23, 6); S Brown 5 (S Evans 66, 7), Allen 7, Mackin 7, Taylor 7; Proctor 8, Marc Williams 8. Subs: A Williams, Kearney.

BOOKED: Baynes, Marc Williams, Allen. REFEREE: PE Curry. An: 2,754.

MAN OF THE MATCH

A WESTWOOD

In only his first competitive match for nearly six months, he was outstanding.

BIG DEBATE

New boy Ashley Westwood certainly looks the part, but who will play alongside him in the centre of defence.

CAPTION(S):

Wrexham's players celebrate at the final whistle at Field Mill; Boss Dean Saunders