Brentford overcame both Wrexham and a myriad of amazing weather conditions to record a home win thanks to Ricky Shakes first goals at Griffin Park.

The winger scored just past the half hour to break the deadlock and sealed the win with less than ten minutes remaining at a Griffin Park that seemed to be experiencing four seasons in one day.

A strong swirling wind prevented Brentford playing the football they are capable of and with hail, rain and snow - with a blizzard at one point early in the second period - the game was reduced to farce at times.

But Brentford coped with the conditions better and in Shakes they had the man capable of breaching a tough Wrexham rearguard.

The game wasn't much of a spectacle and chances were few and far between, Glenn Poole sliced wide early on and then had a shot blocked while Michael Proctor fired over at the other end.

Shakes had the best chance of the first 20 minutes when he volleyed over at full stretch from a Ryan Dickson cross but he made no mistake later in the half.

Wrexham gave the ball away in midfield and Kevin O'Connor and Nathan Elder worked it into the feet of Alan Connell ten yards out, Gavin Ward managed to keep the shot out but it looped up for Shakes to head in.

The relegation-threatened visitors fought back strongly, Simon Spender hit the cross bar when a speculative long free kick bounced all the way through and Simon Brown finally gathered after Drewe Broughton, Gareth Evans and Phil Bolland had tried to force the loose ball home.

Bolland headed over soon after and Shakes produced an important clearance to prevent Neil Roberts heading in as Wrexham began to get on top at the end of the first half.

The Welsh side came very close to an equaliser soon after the re-start when Craig Pead almost diverted a Spender cross past Brown and the Brentford goalkeeper had to save from Broughton soon after.

But as conditions eased Brentford began to take control again, Elder headed a Shakes cross wide and then had another effort cleared.

Wrexham could have earned a point when Brown dropped a Matt Done cross but he produced a fine recovery save from Proctor's shot and Shakes sealed the points minutes later.

The visitors failed to clear a long throw and Elder and Connell combined to feed Shakes on the far side, he lashed the ball past Ward to give The Bees an Easter Saturday win.

Brentford: Brown; Pead, Bennett, Osborne, Dickson; Shakes, O'Connor, Smith (sub Mousinho 27 mins), Poole; Connell, Elder

Subs (not used): Hamer, Reid, W. Brown, Sankofa

Bookings:

Wrexham: Ward; Spender, Evans, Bolland, M. Williams; Aiston, Roberts (sub Done 67 mins), Sonner (sub Hall 67 mins), Llewellyn; Broughton, Proctor

Subs (not used): A. Williams, Hope, Whitley

Attendance: 4,448 (465 away fans)

Written by Chris Wickham