Wrexham aim to throw the Vanarama National League title race wide open when they travel to play Gateshead on Tuesday (7.45pm).

The Dragons make a 400-miles round trip to the North East of England knowing a win will put them just behind top two Macclesfield Town and Aldershot Town.

Wrexham are third after their 2-2 draw against Tranmere Rovers at home, four points behind leaders Macclesfield with a game in hand.

New signing David Raven, a 32-year-old former Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Tranmere player, made his debut for Wrexham and said: “I enjoyed every minute of the match. It took me about half an hour to get my bearings because I haven’t played for a few weeks, but I felt comfortable after 20 minutes or so.”

Wrexham hit back from a goal down to lead 2-1 against Tranmere and manager Dean Keates said: “There is a little frustration about their two goals for me.

“It’s a foul on our goalkeeper, Chris Dunn, before the corner. Andy Cook wiped him out.

“Dave Raven’s top tells you everything about the second goal. It’s been ripped virtually from his neck to, I’d say, the top of his sturnum.

“You can see it on the video and it’s blatant. The kid’s grabbed hold of him and swung him round.

“But we’ll take the positives. It’s a point gained.

“We didn’t start great, a bit slow, but conceding their first goal got us going and for about 15 minutes after when we scored two goals.

“We broke well, looked accomplished and it was just disappointing to concede the strike just before half-time.”

Tranmere scored first in front of a capacity attendance at the Racecourse when defender Richie Sutton scored after 10 minutes.

The home team quickly hit back with two goals in five minutes when former Newport striker Scott Quigley and Chris Holroyd, from a penalty, netted.

Cook scored Tranmere’s second just before half-time and completed the scoring in a 2-2 draw.

Wrexham: Dunn, Roberts, Smith, Pearson, Jennings (Raven 60), Rutherford (Mackreth 85), Wedgbury, Kelly, Holroyd, Quigley (Wright 90), Boden. Subs not used: Dibble, Hurst.

Tranmere: Taylor, Buxton, Ridehalgh Sutton, McNulty, Harris, Cook, Norwood, Jennings, Norburn, Ginnelly (Clarke 73). Subs not used: Pilling, Dunn, Kirby, Hughes.

Referee: Andrew Millar (Co Durham)

Attendance: 8,471 (1,773 away).

Second-placed Aldershot won 3-2 at Leyton Orient, while leaders Macclesfield draw 1-1 against bottom club Torquay United at home.

It’s five matches since Macclesfield last won, but manager John Askey says: “If we want to win something this season, we have to stand up and be counted now.

“We really should have ended the game (v Torquay) as a contest and been out of sight, but we’ve made mistakes again and come away without the three points we needed.

“We have to show character now and get back to winning ways as soon as possible.”

Macclesfield’s next fixture is at home to Guiseley on Saturday, February 10 before they travel to Aldershot Town, currently second, a week later.

Danny Whitehead fired Macclesfield in front after 72 minutes before Elliott Romain levelled (80 mins).

Vanarama National League