Llew well in with double blitz to stun Blackpool
By Darren Devine
29 December 2003
WREXHAM
striker Chris Llewellyn broke his scoring duck at the Racecourse yesterday with
two efforts in seven minutes that helped fire the Dragons to a 4-2 win over
Blackpool.
Before yesterday's game Swansea-born Llewellyn had netted more times at the
Racecourse for Bristol Rovers than for Wrexham during a loan spell with the west
country club last season.
Afterwards he admitted lacking confidence in front of goal before his double
strike in the Second Division clash.
He said, "I'm chuffed because it's been a long time coming.
"The last time I scored at the Racecourse was against Wrexham for Bristol
Rovers.
"It's been playing on my mind and I've been playing well, but my confidence in
front of goal was a bit low so I'm just glad to get it out of the way really."
Wrexham manager Denis Smith admitted to a "massive gamble" in benching veteran
centre-back Brian Carey and fellow defender Shaun Pejic after the Dragons' went
into the game off the back of two straight wins.
Smith said he didn't want to play 35-year-old Carey twice in three days and he
needed more strength in the air so he opted to bring in Welsh under-21
international Craig Morgan and Steve Roberts.
"I took a massive gamble because we've just had two clean sheets and two wins
and I changed the team.
"So I could have been standing here with egg on my face and everybody saying I
had been stupid, but fortunately it came off," he said.
Blackpool boss Steve McMahon fumed about the defensive frailties that saw his
side concede four first-half goals.
"For the first 30 minutes it was diabolical defending by experienced pros all
over the place.
"We were shambolic and we've got to do better."
Blackpool's first threat saw striker John Murphy heading narrowly wide of
Wrexham goalkeeper Andy Dibble's right-hand post following a cross by the
Tangerines' left-back Gareth Evans.
Llewellyn then opened his account with a brilliant solo effort, finding space on
the left on 15 minutes and burying a powerful drive beyond Blackpool goalkeeper
Lee Jones.
And within seven minutes he had doubled his home tally after Wrexham midfielder
Paul Barrett headed down a pinpoint cross from wing-back Carlos Edwards before
the Dragons' striker found the net with a miss-hit shot.
Blackpool had pulled one back inside two minutes though, Tangerines' forward
Scott Taylor nipping in unchallenged from the right to fire in an effort that
took a slight deflection off Wrexham centre-back Dennis Lawrence.
Wrexham's third came when Barrett rounded Jones only to watch his shot rebound
off the goalkeeper's left-hand post before being tucked away by Trinidadian
striker Hector Sam.
With a minute of the first half left, Sam latched on to a through ball from
Dragons' captain Darren Ferguson to notch his second of the game when he sent a
low effort past Jones.
But in injury time Blackpool winger Danny Coid had a shot diverted on to the
crossbar before Tangerines' defender Mike Flynn headed home from a Simon Johnson
cross.
Early in the second half Sam took advantage when a Blackpool move broke down and
ran the entire length of the pitch only to fire a tame shot straight at Jones
when a simple pass would have sent Llewellyn clean through for his hat-trick.
Midfielder Steve Thomas almost made it five for Wrexham when he fired a low
effort inches wide of Jones' right-hand post after latching on to a rebounded
drive by Sam.
After the excitement of the first half, the second period was proving somewhat
uneventful.
But as the game petered out, Llewellyn had another chance to get his third,
tricking his way past his marker with a delicious flick only to be denied when
Jones parried his shot.