A THUNDEROUS strike two minutes into injury time from Wes Baynes saw Wrexham clinch a merited victory over an experienced Blackpool side at The Racecourse.
The game started in dramatic fashion when Blackpool keeper Mark Halstad was booked after just 38 seconds for handling a back pass outside his area. He made amends from the resultant free-kick when he tipped Hedi Taboubi's goalbound effort round the post.
With Adrian Cieslewicz's pace a constant threat, the Pole was unlucky to see his snap shot deflected behind for a corner on five minutes. Obi Anoruo then broke purposeful down the left flank before cutting the ball inside for Johnny Hunt.
The left-back had made a lung busting 60-yard run in support but his right foot shot from the edge of the box flew over the angle.
This seemed to spark the Seasiders into life and the experienced Brett Ormerod forced a good save from Sam Russell barely 60 seconds later.
With Christian Smith again deployed in a central defensive role, the former Port Vale man did well to close down Billy Clarke and his misplaced pass set Cieslewicz clear, the fleet footed winger sending a lovely first time cross into Wes Baynes only for the striker to completely miss-kick some 20-yards out from goal.
Russell was again tested on 25 minutes, when he did well to parry Ormerod's flashing drive, recovering quickly to grasp the ball at the second attempt.
Ormerod was also involved in a move which saw Clarke fire a shot straight at the Wrexham custodian when well placed.
Arguably Russell's best save of the half came some three minutes before the interval, when he was at full stretch to palm Danny Coid's thunderous long-range effort behind for a corner.
However, there was little the former Rochdale stopper could do when Blackpool centre-forward Tom Barihuzen unleashed a fierce shot which rattled the crossbar two minutes into the second period.
Thankfully for Wrexham the ball rebounded to safety but the reprieve proved a temporary one, when on 53 minutes Stephen Dobbie's low shot was deflected in off Christian Smith's outstretched foot, giving the unfortunate Russell no chance.
The Dragons responded immediately with Nathan Fairhurst testing Halstad with a shot from distance, before Baynes saw a free-kick deflected narrowly wide after Taboubi had been felled by former Welsh international Rob Edwards.
The equaliser duly came on 64 minutes, when a superb move involving Baynes, McCluskey and Cieslewicz resulted in Johnny Hunt being scythed down by Andy Butler inside the area.
Adrian Cieslewicz took the spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards to make the score 1-1.
The closing stages saw the game flow from end to end with Russell maintaining his fine form with another excellent one-handed save from Al Bangura.
However, it was the home side that looked the more likely to grab a winner as Cieslewicz, Fairhurst and Baynes all forced saves from Halstad.
Just as it looked as though Wrexham would have to settle for a share of the spoils for a fourth successive game, Taboubi played a great ball to Wes Baynes whose inside run took him past the Blackpool back line and he calmly dispatched a low shot into the far corner of the net.
It was a goal worthy of winning any game and keeps Wrexham in the hunt for the Totesport.com League title with three away games remaining. Maximum points would ensure some silverware at the Racecourse in a few weeks time.
Wrexham: Sam Russell, Kai Edwards, (Declan Walker 85) Johnny Hunt, Leron Clowes, Christian Smith, Nathan Fairhurst, Jamie McCluskey (Ed Moss 68), Hedi Taboubi, Obi Anoruo, Wes Baynes, Adrian Cieslewicz.
Subs: Jamie Morton, Louis Moss.
Blackpool: Mark Halstad, Danny Coid, Joe Martin, Al Bnagura, Andy Butler, Rob Edwards, Brett Ormerod, Stephen Husband, Tom Barkhuizen, Stephen Dobbie, Billy Clarke.
Subs: Chris Kettings, Alex Kite, Liam Tomsett, Josh Roberts.
Referee: Peter Wright (Liverpool)
