STEVE EVANS today revealed what it meant to score his first goal for home-town club Wrexham.

Centre-back Evans, a summer signing from TNS, opened the scoring last night as Wrexham turned in a superb, hard working performance to beat Grimsby Town 3-0 at The Racecourse.

But it was just not Evans’ contribution in the Grimsby penalty area that would have impressed Reds; supporters as the 27-year-old turned in a commanding display at the heart of defence alongside Dennis Lawrence.

And Evans, who also starred in the opening day draw against Wycombe Wanderers, was delighted with the way his home debut, watched by friends and family, went.

“I am a Wrexham lad and it was my home debut so it meant a lot to score - I am chuffed to bits,” said Evans today. “I just went wild when it went in. All my emotions just come out as I went over to the fans to celebrate, and I could see loads of my family and mates who had come to watch - I was knackered afterwards!

“But it was not just about the goal because I was delighted with my performance and pleased we kept a cleansheet because that is my job. In the first half I made a lot of interceptions, defended well and met a lot of headers. I was pleased to have carried it on from Wycombe on Saturday.”

Evans has proved to be a threat from set-pieces and he hopes to add to his tally over the season, believing that Lawrence is an excellent foil in opponents’ penalty areas.

“I think a lot of players concentrate on big Dennis and that takes the attention away from me,” said Evans. “Hopefully I can keeping getting in there and set-up goals or score more myself.

“The last couple of seasons I did not get that many for TNS but previously I was averaging eight to 10 a season so I hope to do that this season.”

Evans admitted it was team-effort in securing a highly impressive victory over Grimsby and said the players have now set a benchmark.

“The work rate from everyone was second to none and if we keep putting teams under that much pressure I am sure we will do well,” added Evans. “The gaffer was pleased with everyone but we have now set the standard and have to keep it going.”

Smith was delighted with Evans’ performance and said the centre-back showed he can cause problems at both ends of the pitch.

“I am delighted for Steve Evans to get on the scoresheet,” added Smith. “He had a difficult pre-season and not done particularly well but in the two league games he has played tremendously. For Steve to score in front of his own crowd he is absolutely thrilled and I am thrilled for him. If he can continue to do that he is going to be a problem at both ends. Defensively he was super along with Dennis Lawrence.”

National boss John Toshack was at The Racecourse to run the rule of Wrexham’s large contingent of Welsh players.

And it has been announced that Wales will play a friendly against Brazil at Tottenham's White Hart Lane ground on Tuesday September 5.

The Brazilian Football Confederation has announced the friendly match but Welsh chiefs were tight-lipped this morning.

Toshack’s side begin their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in the Czech Republic three days earlier, but due to there being an odd number of teams in the group, have a free midweek date to fill.