SEA The Stars swept to an historic triumph in the Juddmonte at Knavesmire and hours later York City were seeing stars at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground.

Like the all-conquering horse, the margin which separated win from defeat was narrow and based on the opening 45 minutes was undeserved.

But City did not make the most of their initial dominance and after falling to the sucker punch of a Gareth Taylor goal on the hour, their supremacy evaporated.

City boss Martin Foyle remained faithful to the starting line-up, including the same substitutes’ posse, which prised a first win of the season from Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

His Red Dragons’ counterpart Dean Saunders made two changes from the side beaten 1-0 at Crawley Town. Trinidad and Tobago international Silvio Spann came in at right-back and Sam Williamson replaced Adrian Cieslewicz prompting a midfield reshuffle.

The home club also paraded their own Wrex factor in which local wannabes sang before kick-off and at half-time – the latter definitely needed a Simon Cowell disdainful shake of the head – but it was City who hit more of the right notes especially in the first-half.

Back on his former stage, Levi Mackin was a pivotal influence for City, calming down after a lecture by referee Ian Smedley following a brace of beefy challenges to exert a calm command in the centre of midfield, while up front Michael Rankine was a bustling menace to the home rearguard from the outset.

Indeed, City should have been 1-0 up after a mere 11 seconds when from a deep cross from the kick-off Rankine’s nod into the Wrexham penalty-box was missed by Mike Williams leaving £55,000 front-man Michael Gash clear on goal. But his first-time shot slapped against the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Sam Russell when the net beckoned enticingly.

In a fizzing opening David McGurk slid in to block Gareth Taylor’s near-post flick after a dangerous low cross from the right by Spann.

But his centre-back ally Daniel Parslow almost gifted the lead to the hosts in the 19th minute when his underhit back-pass was seized upon by Matty Wolfenden.

Luckily for Parslow, goalkeeper Michael Ingham drove the striker wider and wider before James Meredith effected a clearance.

The game looked far from goalless with both sides showing fragility at the core of defence, while City’s attack moved with a fluid purpose, the line led powerfully by Rankine. However, danger-laced runs from both Rankine and Gash, and the occasional break from the ever-scampering Andy Ferrell were ill-served by poor delivery at crosses and set-plays.

Wrexham turned up the heat in a manic spell just before half-time forcing three corners in as many minutes, but City’s packed defence was teak-tough.

City produced a finesse-crammed move in which first-time passes of laser speed and accuracy between Mackin, Rankine, Gash and the hitherto anonymous Neil Barrett lacerated the defensive Red Dragons’ den before Alex Lawless’ first-time shot stung the gloved palms of Russell.

In a frantic finish to the first-half, Russell’s opposite number Ingham then dived low to his left to paw away a crisp Neil Taylor shot after a lucky rebound diverted the ball into his path.

The surprise was that the game was still without a goal, but that all changed just before the hour and criminally City’s defence were culpable. They stood rooted waiting for an offside flag that did not come and Wrexham skipper Gareth Taylor glanced the ball in from an Andy Fleming knock-back.

Instantly, Foyle made a double-substitution with Richard Brodie on for Rankine and Adam Smith replacing Lawless.

But they were left to watch as Wrexham, buoyed by their deadlock-breaker, forced fine saves from an alert Ingham to deny Fleming and Mark Jones.

Substitute Cieslewicz, nominally a winger, now menaced the City backline in a free-running role and with the hosts increasingly nullifying Mackin, City’s attacking impetus weakened.

Gash, who was fading like a Cheshire cat grin, lashed a good chance wide from a Smith corner, but it was a rare visiting raid.

Match Facts

York city: Michael Ingham 8, Ben Purkiss 7, David McGurk 6, Daniel Parslow 7, James Meredith 6, Alex Lawless 6, Levi Mackin 7, Neil Barrett 5, Andy Ferrell 6, Michael Gash 6, Michael Rankine 7.

Substitutions: Richard Brodie (for Rankine, 62) 5 Adam Smith (for Lawless, 62) 6 Craig Nelthorpe (for Ferrell, 81).

Subs not used: O’Hare, Sangare.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

City’s star man: Michael Ingham – crucial saves kept City in contention.

Wrexham: Sam Russell, Silvio Spann (Curtis Obeng 80), Mansour Assoumani, Mike Williams, Sam Williamson, Mark Jones, Andy Fleming, Hedi Taboubi (Christian Smith 72), Neil Taylor, Gareth Taylor, Matty Wolfenden (Adrian Cieslewicz 57). Subs (not used): Curtis Obeng, Marc Williams, Wes Baynes.

Yellow cards: Brodie, Russell, Mackin.

Referee: Ian Smedley (Derbyshire).

Referee: Ian Smedley (Derbyshire).

Other Blue Square Premier results: AFC Wimbledon 4 Salisbury 0, Altrincham 2 Histon 1, Cambridge 0 Crawley 1, Forest Green Luton , Gateshead 1 Tamworth 1, Grays 1 Eastbourne 0, Kidderminster 0 Kettering 1, Mansfield 4 Barrow 1, Oxford 4 Chester 0, Rushden 2 Hayes & Yeading 1, Stevenage 3 Ebbsfleet 0.