GOALKEEPER Kevin Dearden, who joined Torquay United from Wrexham in 2001, produced a match-winning performance against his former club at Plainmoor last night.

The 34-year old veteran, making only his second League One start since August, pulled off a string of fine saves to frustrate the Dragons, in particular striker Juan Ugarte.

The non-contract signing was given his first start by Wrexham boss Denis Smith and he did as well as anyone on another disappointing night for the visitors.

The home side, who had grabbed a valuable three points at Port Vale at the weekend, knew another victory would leapfrog them over the Dragons, who were looking for their first success in six league outings.

And the Gulls had the better of the first half, going ahead in the 26th minute to underline the wealth of possession they enjoyed, even though Smith's side probably had the better chances of an end-to-end contest.

Torquay trikers Martin Gritton and Leon Constantine had both fired early efforts off target before Wrexham's first sight of goal in the 15th minute when Mark Jones played in Chris Llewellyn, whose fierce shot was superbly turned away for a corner by Dearden.

Nine minutes later, Dearden was again in the right place when Chris Armstrong's flick-on was quickly controlled by Ugarte, but the Spaniard's first-time shot went straight into the keeper's hands.

On a couple of occasions the visitors had looked vulnerable to the pace of Gritton, in particular, but midfielder Alex Russell crafted their opening goal, threading the ball through for Tony Bedeau to beat Matt Baker with a cool finish.

Midfielder Mark Jones, retaining his place in the Dragons line-up after coming into the side on Saturday, was unfortunate not to equalise after 31 minutes.

The Wales under-21 international saw Dearden off his line but his chip from 20 yards was diverted away by Lee Canoville. And from the subsequent corner, a Dennis Lawrence header was cleared off the line by Matt Villis.

United should have doubled their advantage within a minute, Russell breaking down the left to cross for Constantine, who headed over the bar from eight yards. The visitors' misfortunes continued at the other end, with Armstrong mis-timing a bicycle kick, then heading Shaun Pejic's cross just wide of the goal before Jones saw another fierce effort rebound off team-mate Ugarte.

Dearden, who felt hard done by when he was released by ex-Wrexham boss Brian Flynn nearly four years ago, continued to be difficult to beat with another fine reflex save from Ugarte in the 46th minute.

The Dragons were forced into a change two minutes later when Steve Roberts was replaced by Craig Morgan, whose first contribution was a long-range shot that was again well gathered by the goalkeeper, who must have seen the ball late.

For the first time there were signs that the home side could be brittle but they were quickly back on the front foot when Jones lazily gave the ball away in the centre circle and more sloppy play by Darren Ferguson was rescued by Lawrence who got back to tackle Gritton.

Another Wrexham opening came and went in the 63rd minute when the lively Ugarte crossed from the by-line but Armstrong's instinctive volley was blocked, the rebound falling to Andy Holt whose effort flew out of the ground.

Torquay's enterprise was now sporadic but Constantine, in the final match of his loan from Peterborough, went close from 20 yards before play switched and Ugarte once more failed to beat Dearden.

Wrexham had a lucky escape on 71 minutes when substitute Abo Akin-fenwa, fully a yard offside, was allowed to run on, but fired against the upright before the visitors made a double change, Matt Crowell and Hector Sam coming on for Jones and Armstrong.

With time running out, United doggedly hung on, Canoville doing well to block a close-range effort from Lawrence and that man Dearden was good enough to foil Sam from eight yards with just six minutes left.

TORQUAY UNITED: Dearden; Canoville, Villis, Taylor, McGlinchey; Bedeau, Russell, Hockley, Hill; Gritton (Akinfenwa 65), Constantine. Subs: Kuffour, Boardley, Skinner, Fowler.

WREXHAM: Baker; Pejic, Roberts (Morgan 48), Lawrence; Spender, Jones (Crowell 73), Ferguson, Llewellyn, Holt; Armstrong (Sam 73), Ugarte. Subs: Mackin, Evans. BOOKED: Ferguson, Holt.

REFEREE: M Russell (Herts)

ATT: 2,384

MAN OF THE MATCH... Juan Ugarte

Caused the home defence plenty of problems but found Kevin Dearden in inspired form