BRIAN CAREY stands to lose money over a bet struck with striker Lee McEvilly – and the Wrexham manager would prefer to lose the wager!

Carey has made a bet with McEvilly – who was 25 on Sunday – about the amount of goals the Reds' frontman will score before the end of the season.

McEvilly has scored eight goals this season, the latest strike coming in Saturday's 3-0 victory against Lincoln City, after recovering from a summer foot injury that ruled him out until November.

And although Carey did not reveal McEvilly's goalscoring target, he is hoping the striker keeps finding the net to help Wrexham pull away to League Two safety.

"I made a bet with Lee about how many goals he will score," said Carey today. "I will be out of pocket if Lee wins the bet but I hope he does. I will gladly pay up.

"Lee will be looking to get as many goals as possible before the end of the season and he should be in double figures."

McEvilly scored the third goal in the weekend's 3-0 victory at Sincil Bank which took Wrexham out of the relegation zone on goal difference, with Boston slipping into the bottom two after their defeat at Hereford United.

Wrexham have four matches remaining, starting with the visit of already relegated Torquay United to The Racecourse on Saturday, and Carey wants no let-up in the battle to avoid the drop.

"We have to look after ourselves and make sure we are safe. We have given ourselves a chance now but there is a lot work yet to do," said Carey. "There are a lot of points to play for but we are not getting carried away.

"Now we have to push on and try to win every game, starting on Saturday. Our home performances have been decent enough but the main difference at Lincoln was that we made the most of the opportunities that came our way."

Simon Spender, who opened the scoring at Lincoln and had a hand in the other two goals, earned rave reviews from manager Carey.

The 21-year-old is one of the players out of contract in the summer and Carey said: "These sort of things will be sorted in time.

"But Simon has not done himself any harm. He has done well and I am thrilled to bits for him. He has worked hard at his game, but he is not on his own. Others have also played well and we need them to maintain that in the last four games."

On-loan centre-back Richard Walker, who has missed the last two games, is struggling with tendonitis in his knee while midfielder Danny Williams, substituted at Linocln with 10 minutes remaining, is still troubled with a sore back.

Goalkeeper Mike Ingham (groin) and striker Neil Roberts (calf) underwent light training sessions yesterday but midfielder Mark Jones was not involved, while Carey hopes on-loan midfielder Robbie Garrett, missing in recent matches, makes a full recovery from a virus.

"Neil was close for the Lincoln game but did not make it in the end," added Carey. "We will look at the players again and make a decision by the end of the week."

Meanwhile, Garrett played just over an hour in Wrexham reserves 1-1 draw against Carlisle United at Buckley's Globe Way last night.

Michael Jones, Lee Roche, Mike Williams, Levi Mackin, Josh Johnson, Jamie Reed, Marc Williams and Mike Carvill were also given a run-out.

Wrexham bossed the opening half and came close on a number of occasions but could not make the vital breakthrough. Carlisle took the lead in the 77th minute but Carvill's late equaliser was no more than Wrexham deserved.

The Reds take on Carlisle against at Brunton Park next week in their final Pontin's League game of the season.