WREXHAM are closing in on a play-off place in the Blue Square Premier, despite their televised 1-1 draw at Torquay United on Friday evening.

Although the Racecourse outfit dropped one place to eighth following the completion of the weekend league programme, they are now just four points adrift of fifth-placed Cambridge United.

And they have three games in hand on Gary Brabin’s side, who are the Dragons’ next opponents in front of the television cameras at the Racecourse this coming Thursday.

The Plainmoor stalemate was Wrexham’s third league draw in a row and the immediate reaction from manager Dean Saunders was one of disappointment.

“I would not have settled for a point before the game because I’m trying to win every game and I was coming here expecting us to win,” he said.

After taking the lead through Ryan Flynn – his first goal for the club – somewhat against the run of play, Wrexham conceded a soft equaliser, but went on to create the best chance of snatching victory through teenage winger Jon Brown.

And the Racecourse boss admitted that the Gulls had proved extremely difficult opponents.

“The conditions made it a bit tricky for us and Torquay are a big team as well,” he added. “They use a lot of long throws and long balls, but we had dealt with them, we played a bit of football in the first half and we scored a great goal.

“We also got in some good areas, but were unable to find the finishing touch on the ball. They had a few chances as well and we always looked under pressure from set pieces.

“I lost count of the number of corners they had, so when I wake up tomorrow I might feel a point was all right.

“But I was really disappointed with the goal we conceded because we’ve gone over all that, including short corners, and the lad was given a free header at the far post.

“I think it’s the first goal we have conceded from a set piece since I’ve been here, so it’s hard to swallow. But maybe on the balance of play a point was a good result for us.”

Delighted to see Liverpool loan signing Flynn getting on the scoresheet, Saunders said: “Ryan got in the right area in the middle of the goal and he got inside the full-back, which is what all wide men need to do to score. It was a good cross from Jonathan Brown and a good finish.”

And he declined to criticise Brown for squandering a potential match-winning opportunity late in the game.

Saunders added: “It’s easy from the bench and I’ve been in that situation before when sometimes you are better off just blasting it and just hoping that technique looks after you. He tried to be too careful probably but he’s not missed the goal because the keeper got back up and saved it.”