WREXHAM pressed the self destruct button in spectacular style at Macclesfield Town on Saturday.

For the second time in three seasons, Wrexham threw away a 2-0 lead at Moss Rose and were beaten 3-2 by the Silkmen.

Everything was going so well for the Reds inside the first 22 minutes.

Two goals had been scored and Wrexham were well on top, playing some excellent passing football that suggested there were more goals for the visitors.

It looked as though Wrexham were going to atone for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat which they should never have lost against Macclesfield last month, eventually losing to a dodgy penalty decision.

Macclesfield were not in the game, and even their disgruntled supporters would not have predicted what was in store.

The Silkmen took over and after reducing the deficit before the interval, they bossed the second half.

Wrexham handled the pressure, dealt with everything that was thrown at them and maintained their lead as the half wore on as Macclesfield did not take advantage of the majority of the possession by creating few chances.

But the Reds were not helped when on-loan midfielder Robbie Garrett was shown a second yellow card and controversially dismissed with 10 minutes remaining after tangling with home goalkeeper Tommy Lee.

Garrett, booked in the first half following a rash challenge, could not get out of the clutches of Lee who received a yellow card for his actions.

Wrexham were holding on but the game isn't over until the final whistle and the Reds caved in during the four minute spell of injury time, conceding twice.

After leading 2-0, a draw would have been seen as a disappointing result.

But defeat ....

Wrexham will be wondering where it all went wrong but the fact of the matter is this was a game they should never have lost against opponents who themselves have hardly been setting League Two alight this season.

Mark Jones and Danny Williams, who both picked up injuries in the victory at Accrington, were both declared fit, allowing Carey to name an unchanged line up.

Unmarked Macclesfield defender Dave Morley somehow blasted over the bar from close range after just three minutes, but Wrexham then took control.

And the Reds took the lead in the sixth minute.

The ball was put back into the area after Richard Hope's free-kick was only partially cleared and former Reds' trainee Jimmy McNulty clumsily hauled down Proctor, and the striker converted the resulting spot-kick to make it four goals this term.

Wrexham continued to press and Proctor only just failed to latch onto Neil Taylor's pass and the chance went begging, and Neil Roberts could not direct his header at goal.

Wrexham were on top and Proctor charged down goalkeeper Tommy Lee's clearance but the loose ball did not fall kindly for him.

However, Wrexham doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute following a well worked move.

Anthony Williams' long clearance was flicked on by Roberts for Jones who ran down the right flank, and although Proctor - marked by two defenders - seemed the obvious choice for a pass, Jones pulled the ball back for Llewellyn who curled the ball beyond Lee to net his first of the season.

Francis Green volleyed wide at the other end, but Macclesfield reduced the deficit in the 36th minute.

Danny Thomas' cross was nodded down by Levi Reid and Martin Gritton headed past Anthony Williams.

Thomas was only just wide of the target with his long range effort, but Wrexham were forced into a change one minute before the break when Danny Williams was replaced by Mike Williams.

Robbie Garrett saw his shot blocked while Macclesfield responded with McNulty bringing a save out of Anthony Williams, but Wrexham led 2-1 at the break.

Macclesfield twice went close to equalising at the start of the second half.

Kevin McIntyre's centre was only just headed over by Gritton, and the striker also failed to hit the target with another close range header from the same player's cross.

It was the Silkmen who had the upper hand in the second period but despite having most of the possession, they were not creating decent scoring chances.

Wrexham hit back with substitute Eifion Williams racing onto Llewellyn's 73rd minute through ball but was just beaten to the ball by keeper Lee who charged out of the area.

Garrett then fed Llewellyn who only just fired wide from 20 yards, but the Reds were reduced to 10 men on 80 minutes.

Garrett, booked in the first half, was controversially shown a second yellow card and sent off after tangling with Lee who was only booked.

Wrexham found themselves in a two-on-two situation with one minute remaining and Jones played in Llewellyn but he fired wide.

However, Wrexham had been forced to soak up a lot of second half pressure and had to endure four minutes of injury time.

And Macclesfield were rewarded with an equaliser in the second minute of injury time.

McIntyre crossed from the left and Morley headed past Anthony Williams.

Unbelievably, Wrexham conceded again just one minute later as Thomas' cross from the left cleared Anthony Williams and nestled in the top corner of the net.

Stunned Wrexham were left pointless and that should never have been the case after leading 2-0.