Wrexham needed extra-time to finally beat Altrincham 2-1 in the third round of the competition at Moss Lane last night.

Marc Williams gave Wrexham the lead early in the second half but that goal was cancelled out by the home side just six minutes later.

It took a goal from leading scorer Jefferson Louis, who struck for the ninth time this season, in the second period of extra-time to see off Altrincham.

And assistant manager Darracott was just pleased to have progressed following a below par performance.

"We expected a battle and we were in one. It was a cup tie and we were playing away from home," said Darracott.

"Fortunately we have come away with the result and we are in the next round. That is the best thing I can say about the game from our point of view.

"We were disappointed with the way we played. We could have played a whole lot better and we made it very difficult for ourselves.

"It was a disappointing performance but in a cup tie the most important thing is to win.

"Sometimes you won't play so well and hopefully whoever we draw in the next round we play a whole lot better than we did tonight, and make it a little bit easier for ourselves. But the most important thing in cup ties is to get through."

Manager Dean Saunders made just one change to the side that started Saturday's win against Lewes with midfielder Christian Smith taking over from Wes Baynes who was serving a one-match ban after picking up five yellow cards.

But Darracott said a strong Wrexham side made life difficult for themselves: "We took it very, serious and put out what was a very strong side. We have not rested anybody," he said.

"We prepared properly for it but on the night the general play wasn't good enough.

"Well, it was good enough for the result but to please us it was not good enough.

"We put ourselves under pressure through giving the ball away too much and we need to do better.

"We are striving to get the players to do better, to concentrate on their passing and concentrate on the possession, and we didn't do very well tonight.

"That is why we came under pressure, that is why we did not win the game more easily than what we did.

"That is why it went to extra-time – we would have liked to have won it in 90 minutes but we didn't."

Marc Williams gave Wrexham the lead with his fifth goal under Saunders and sixth of the season.

But Darracott was disappointed Wrexham did not build on that.

"Once we got the goal then you are thinking 'here we go'. It looks positive for us," said Darracott. "I thought we started the first half really well, I thought that was our best passage of play.

"And we started the second half quite well but we did not maintain it.

"You have got to be able to maintain it and keep the good play going for longer than we did. Consequently we put ourselves under pressure."

And Darracott was unhappy with the amount of defending Wrexham had to do after coming second best in the midfield battles: "We know that in a game away from home you are going to have to compete for all the second balls," he said.

"Unfortunately we did not win enough of them tonight and consequently put ourselves under pressure by allowing them too much possession at times.

"The defence had to deal with a lot of long balls but that is their job as back four players.

"I thought they stuck at it but they will have headaches this morning, they had to head that many balls.

"I am not knocking teams if that is the way they play. It is a legal way to play but we have got to deal with it and then having headed the ball clear make sure we win the second ball."

But Darracott singled out centre-back Ashley Westwood for praise: "I thought Ashley was outstanding,"he added.

"I thought he was probably the best player on the pitch for me, and I am not being biased because he was our player."

On-loan full-back Ritchie de Laet limped off with a thigh strain which is not thought to be too serious.

- Reds' centre-back Darran Kempson is joining Blue Square Premier outfit Forest Green Rovers on loan for a month.