Goals -
1-0 Llewellyn (18)
1-1 Murphy (64)
1-2 Murphy (77)

For the second time this season Wrexham let Blackpool off the hook and once again they conceded a half time lead to go down to two second half goals.

At least on this occasion the Seasiders' earned their spoils with a battling display that ended a run of three straight defeats and made sure that Wrexham remained rooted in the relegation zone.

A pleasant afternoon suddenly turned nasty as rain started sheeting down onto the Racecourse from 1.45pm, turning the playing surface into a greasy rink, that was always going to cut up the more the game progressed.

A strong wind only compounded the problems from kick-off, with Blackpool playing with it at their back for the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors, looking to back on track after last Tuesday's mauling at Milton Keynes Dons, certainly used the elements to their advantage from the start and even attempted a 45-yard effort through Simon Grayson, that wasn't far from catching out Andy Dibble.

It was an awful day for the players to cope with, but they were certainly up for trying their best, although the visitors were having the better of it.

Then the opening goal of the match came on 18 minutes, as Wrexham battled against the wind to play a ball down the left flank and feed it into Alex Smith near the byline. The midfielder turned his marker and slipped pass square towards Chris Llewellyn, although the striker still had plenty of work to do before creating the space to fire his shot across keeper Kevin Ellegaard, despite the 6'5" Dane diving full length to try and keep it out.

Wrexham's biggest problem in defending was the wind, as time and again the lads found the ball coming straight back at them from clearances.

One cross into the box on 34 minutes ended with Danny Coid attempting a bicycle kick that drifted well wide of the right hand post.

Chris Armstrong broke clear of the Blackpool offside trap, but the pass through to him hit his heels and gave the visitors a let off!

As Grayson threatened to do the same at the other end, Steve Roberts brought him down and was booked for his efforts, some 25-yards out. Peter Clarke took the free kick and was only a couple of feet high with his shot.

With the Reds once againbogged down by the conditions, the ball finally set up for full back Gareth Evans and his shot from distance was gratefully punched away by Dibble, as he dare not try to catch it in a swirling wind.

Another cross spun off Roberts' head for a corner, just clearing the back post!

Blackpool continued to battle hard and should have pulled level 10 minutes after the break when Southern saw his shot beaten out by Dibble, only for the ball to land at the feet of ex-Chester striker John Murphy. Almost surprised to see it he managed to miss from only a few yards out and with the goal gapping before him!

This should have been a warning to the Reds, but it was one they chose to ignore as on 64 minutes the visitors did get back into the match.

Ferguson was caught in possession on the half way line, the ball was knocked out to substitute Keigan Parker, only on the pitch for a few minutes and he advanced on Dibble, but saw the big man make another fine save.

Parker then chased after the loose ball, crossing from out wide but finding the head of John Murphy, who had the easy task of heading home.

There was then a double substitution from Denis Smith, as Scott Green and Juan Ugarte, replaced Ferguson and Armstrong respectively on 73 minutes.

Bad turned to worse for the Reds when Pool scored a second on 77 minutes, Murphy firing home in a goalmouth melee after Wrexham had failed on three occasions to clear the ball from inside their own six-yard box.

The initial cross had come in when both Whitley and Pejic were left standing on the side of the box and the delivery was only punched up in the air by Dibbs, before two more attempted clearances ended with Blackpool taking a deserved lead!

Ugarte was close with our first shot of the second half, on 80 minutes, as his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

There was time for a late substitution to bring on Hector Sam, although the one cross that did come in was met by Whitley, who fired off target from the edge of the box.

The bigger than average crowd was streaming for the exits long before the final whistle - not the start we were looking for to welcome in 2005!

Wrexham: Andy Dibble, Steve Roberts, Shaun Pejic, Dennis Lawrence, Jim Whitley, Andy Holt, Alex Smith (Hector Sam 88), Darren Ferguson (Scott Green 73), Mark Jones, Chris Armstrong (Juan Ugarte 73), Chris Llewellyn.
Subs: Michael Jones, Craig Morgan.

Blackpool: Kevin Ellegaard, Gareth Evans, Mark McGregor,Peter Clarke, Rob Clare, Jamie Burns,Simon Grayson, Keith Southern, Danny Coid, John Murphy, Simon Lynch (Keigan Parker 58).
Subs: Lewis Edge, Leam Richardson, Richie Wellens, Martin Bullock.

Bookings -
Wrexham: Roberts (foul, 39)

Referee: Mr. Beebey (Northampton)
Attendance: 5,601
Away: 535

STAT ATTACK
2	Shots On Target	7
2	Shots Off Target	9
8	Fouls (Conceded)	13
6	Corners	6
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
REFEREE: R Beeby