FOR 86 minutes, striker Juan Ugarte was only a marginal figure in his team's efforts to draw level in a game that appeared to be passing them by.

The Spaniard cut a lightweight, and largely unimpressive, figure against Torquay United's commanding central defensive pairing of Paul Robinson and Craig Taylor.

But after one crisply-struck 20-yard volley flew past United goalkeeper Phil Barnes on 87 minutes none of what went before mattered one jot to any of the 3,608 Wrexham fans inside the Racecourse.

For Wrexham coach Denis Smith, the ability to turn a game you have otherwise played little or no part in with a single, majestic contribution, is the hallmark of a great striker.

And for a manager deprived of this quality since Andy Morrell's departure two seasons ago, the sight of the little Spaniard popping out of nowhere to sink Wrexham's rivals is like manna from heaven.

After Ugarte's goal secured his team a point against League One relegation rivals Torquay and took his tally to 10 strikes in seven games Smith was beaming about his new marksman.

"A lot of what he does makes me think about whether I should be leaving him on the pitch.

"But I left him on because I knew he was always liable to score.

"He scored four against Chesterfield and if you had seen him for the first 40 minutes you would have wondered whether he was on the pitch.

"But then he scores four and I've had strikers like that at a variety of clubs I've been at - players who haven't always looked the best on the pitch, but at times have been my most important player."

Torquay boss Leroy Rosenior praised his team for surviving a second-half battering after going ahead through Jo Kuffour's opener on 20 minutes when his team had a swirling wind at their backs.

"It was always going to be difficult, but we stayed organised and resilient and tried to play on the break.

"The only criticism I'd make is that we could have had a bit more quality with our final pass on the break.

"In the second half I felt maybe Wrexham had just run out of steam, but to be fair to Ugarte, he finished it well."

Kuffour's 15-yard strike after team-mate Leon Constantine pulled the ball back from the byline came against the run of play as the visitors posed little threat to the Wrexham goal in the early stages.

But United came alive after their goal with striker Adebayo Akinfenwa firing straight into Wrexham stopper Ben Foster's arms and Constantine seeing a shot ricochet onto the crossbar.

Then Torquay midfielder Kevin Hill's drilled shot through a crowded box needed only a touch to put his team 2-0 up before Ugarte saw a 25-yard free-kick sail just wide on the half hour.

Later Akinfenwa raced clear after capitalising on Danny Williams' misplaced pass to Dennis Lawrence, but Foster was able to block the Gulls' striker's effort and spare his team-mate any embarrassment.

Four minutes after the break Wrexham striker Chris Llewellyn's cross from the by-line almost crept in at the far post after the ball was caught on the wind and looped over Barnes' head.

With the wind now working in their favour the Dragons began to dominate, with Llewellyn twice trying his luck from long-range but failing to test Barnes on either occasion.

Next when Akinfenwa charged down Fosters' attempted clearance Dragons' defender Stephen Roberts prevented the ball bobbling over the goalline before Wrexham's Mark Jones poked a close-range effort wide.

Then with the goal at his mercy after Barnes had blocked Williams' fierce drive, Ugarte failed to control the rebound, firing straight at Torquay defender Paul Robinson on 73 minute.

But in the closing stages the Spanish striker atoned for his earlier error with his sweetly-struck equaliser from substitute Hector Sam's header.

Wrexham Player Ratings

BEN FOSTER: Clearances were sometimes short and almost caught out by Akinfenwa's charge down 6

ALEX SMITH: Always involved despite unfamiliar wing-back role 7

STEPHEN ROBERTS: Displayed the assurance that won him first senior Wales cap in midweek 7

DENNIS LAWRENCE: Reliable defensively and threat going forward 6

CARLOS EDWARDS: Subbed on 76 minutes after having ordinary game 6

DANNY WILLIAMS: Misplaced pass to Lawrence almost left his team two down 6

DARREN FERGUSON: Bounced back from flu to start and always looked most likely to carve open Torquay 7

CHRIS LLEWELLYN: Never hides and as ever ran himself into the ground 7

CRAIG MORGAN: Another strong performance that has cemented his place ahead of Shaun Pejic 7

MARK JONES: Low-key display that saw him subbed for Hector Sam 6

Subs: Sam (76) - provided knock-down for Ugarte's goal and added some zip to the Dragons' forward line. Bennett (76) - got forward well and delivered some dangerous crosses after coming off the bench.

JUAN UGARTE: On a day when there were few outstanding performers for the Red Dragons the former Real Sociedad man's volley was one of the few outstanding moments for Wrexham fans 8