ROB MCELHENNEY is aiming high after seeing Wrexham begin their League One campaign with a victory. Back in the third tier for the first time in 19 years after clinching back-to-back promotions, Phil Parkinson's men secured a 3-2 opening day win against Wycombe Wanderers at The Racecourse on Saturday. The Reds are tipped to challenge for a play-off berth and although McElhenney knows it won't be easy competing against the likes of Birmingham and Charlton, he is targeting an unprecedented third successive promotion.
"What can you hope for? To win," said McElhenney, who was joined by co-chairman Ryan Reynolds at the ironic North Wales stadium for the big kick-off. "Win and get promoted. That is what you can hope for.
"Is that going to happen? I don't know, that is why we have got to play the games. "It won't be easy but this time last year we were leaving here sad. Today I'm leaving here happy.
" Max Cleworth gave Wrexham an early lead and Jack Marriott made it 2-0 with a stunning strike on the half-hour mark. Wycombe reduced the deficit after the interval but Steven Fletcher restored the two-goal advantage with seven minutes remaining. Although the visitors found the net again in the 89th minute, the Reds held on for victory and McElhenney said: "I was trying to figure out if it was fun or not.
"It was fun for periods of time, for sure. We really looked like a League One team there that can compete. "I was really happy with all the goals.
Well, not all the goals - three of the goals." Marriott scored an early contender for goal of the season when he chested down Ollie Palmer's flick and volleyed the ball into the top corner of the net from just inside the area. It was only his second goal since joining Wrexham in the winter transfer window and McElhenney feels that will be a huge confidence-booster.
"I was just really excited for Jack ...
I just feel like he is going to shine," he said. "He was just looking for that goal that is going to give him the confidence to go out there and be the player that he is. "It was beautiful.
We don't have any replay here so we had to run back in. We don't have it up on TV so we had to look on our phones and find it." Substitute Fletcher scored a well-taken goal to put the game beyond Wycombe's reach.
When asked whether the former Scotland international has still got quality, McElhenney added: "He sure does, "We know whenever he comes in, anything can happen.".
