IT'S a strange competition, the LDV Vans Trophy. Seen by many as simply a pain, when sides creep into the latter stages it provides a fantastic boost for both finances and morale.

That's exactly what Wrexham need at this stage of the season. And, for once in a season of turmoil, they got it - just..

Up front things went to plan for Denis Smith's side, as a hat-trick from Juan Ugarte and goals from Mark Jones and Darren Ferguson won a fantastic match at Boundary Park.

In defence, however, they were appalling, gifting a brace to Scott Vernon and one to David Eyres - two of the total when they were 5-1 up and cruising.

In the 39 games since Wrexham were last here, what could go wrong has gone wrong. Back then, Hector Sam helped himself to a hat-trick as the Dragons, playing their second match of the season, kept up their 100% record and their place at the top of the pack in League One.

Since then there's been the little matter of entering administration, losing 10 points which rooted the Dragons in the relegation places.

There they've stayed. When people talk about Wrexham they use the prefix "crisis club."

Now, four points from safety and facing an uncertain future, Smith is glad to welcome comfort from any source - especially one that provides a showpiece day at the Millennium Stadium.

Surely a two-goal headstart with the Racecourse leg of the Northern Final still to come will be too big a mountain for Oldham to climb.

Already missing Chris Armstrong, Brian Carey and Andy Dibble, the squad lost Steve Roberts and Danny Williams in Monday's training session.

In came defender Shaun Pejic andmidfielder Matt Crowell - given the holding role ahead of the more experienced Jim Whitley.

The new defensive unit looked shaky from the start, but on the break the Dragons looked dangerous.

On 20 minutes Ugarte should have scored as a floated Ferguson free-kick was nodded on by Chris Llewellyn, but the Basque frontman couldn't convert the knock-down.

On 29 minutes Crowell set up a break for Mark Jones, who cut inside his man, brought a save from Les Pogliacomi - and Ugarte made no mistake with the rebound from 15 yards.

Just three minutes later it was two as Carlos Edwards moved forward and managed to prod it through to Jones, who applied a cracking finish past Pogliacomi.

Two-up, Wrexham's defensive frailities were exposed, and in the 35th minute Scott Vernon hit an individual effort into the net via a post.

With both defences opening like the Red Sea, Oldham tried to put on the pressure in the second half by changing to a 4-4-2 formation.

But the fox in the box Ugarte hit his 14th goal for Wrexham, swiveling on a sixpence to finish from close-range after a Ferguson free-kick.

Then when Jones was scythed down by Will Haining, Ferguson continued his fine use of dead balls by curling the free-kick past Pogliacomi.

And there was more. On 62 minutes Ugarte smacked the ball into the back of the net to make it five.

But in the 76th minute 41-year-old Eyres buried the ball past Foster, before referee Clive Webster did the home side a favour on 83 minutes as Morgan tripped Kevin Betsey and Vernon sent Foster the wrong way from the spot.

OLDHAM ATH: Pogliacomi, Holden (Hall 59), Griffin, Bonner (Hughes 65), Haining, Eyre (Eyres 36), Bruce, Hall, Kilkenny, Betsey, Vernon. Subs: Mildenhall, Lomax. BOOKED: Haining.

WREXHAM: Foster, Edwards, Smith, Pejic, Morgan, Lawrence, Crowell, Jones, Ferguson (Whitley 84), Llewellyn, Ugarte (Sam 77). Subs: Bennett, Sam, Green, Harrison. BOOKED: Morgan.

REFEREE: Colin Webster ATT: 4,881

MAN OF THE MATCH... Juan Ugarte

The Basque striker was a shining light for Wrexham and his finishing was superb