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WREXHAM’S hopes of climbing to second spot in the National League thanks to a double from striker Chris Holroyd were dashed by a late Leyton Orient equaliser at the Racecourse yesterday.

The Dragons were caught napping at an 85th minute corner that saw a powerful header visiting defender Mark Ellis grab a valuable and welldeserved point for his side

The home side made a dream start with a goal in the first minute when a neat build-up down the left gave Paul Rutherford space for a cross which was headed home by Holroyd.

And the Dragons might have doubled their lead after 19 minutes but for a goal-line clearance by Ellis to deny adventurous defender James Jennings his second goal of the season.

The visitors hit back almost immediately and were themselves foiled by a similar interception when Macauley Bonne’s effort beat goalkeeper Chris Dunn but was headed away by Marcus Kelly.

The Orient striker didn’t have to wait long to go one better though, his speculative cross-shot 60 seconds later finding its way into the bottom corner of the net to level the contest.

Wrexham skipper Shaun Pearson went close to restoring his side’s advantage, heading just wide from a corner and O’s keeper Charlie Grainger saved well from James Hurst as the home side continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession .

The longer the match went on the more frustrated the home side were at their inability to find a way through and they were fortunate not to fall behind midway through the second half when a rare Orient foray resulted in James Dayton’s powerful drive THE Martyrs’ record in the cups this season has hardly been inspiring and they checked out of the FA Trophy at the first huridle, losing by the odd goal in three to lower league opposition in Taunton.

Granted, Taunton are riding high in the Evo Stik League regional division and may well be in Merthyr’s division next season, but the revenue from a run in the Trophy would have provided the Martyrs with a financial boost any striking Dunn’s crossbar.

And Wrexham made the most of that let-off in the 71st minute when Rutherford got to the byline and crossed for Holroyd to double his tally with a crisp finish from close range.

But Orient refused to be beaten and dragged themselves level for a non-league club would welcome.

It did not take long for Merthyr to fall behind so that by the time they had settled they were playing catch-up. Ben Adelsbury’s free-kick was parried by Merthyr’s Oliver Davies and, from Dan Sullivan’s returned cross, Matt Wright reacted first to head home.

Chances were at a premium second time with just five minutes left on the clock, a thundering header from Ellis giving goalkeeper Dunn no chance. WREXHAM: Dunn; Hurst, Smith, Pearson, Jennings (Carrington 60); Mackreth,Wright, Kelly, Rutherford; Holroyd (Smith 90), Massanka 6 (Reid 83). Subs: Dibble, Boden. thereafter, but Merthyr come within a whisker of an equaliser seconds before half-time as Stuart Fleetwood turned Kerry Morgan’s cross on to the cross-bar.

Five minutes after the interval, Merthyr had strong calls for a penalty waved away after Morgan looked to have been brought down by Pierce Mitchell.

But, having waved those away, referee Tim Burley of Redruth rubbed salt in the Merthyr wounds BOOKED: Pearson. LEYTON ORIENT: Grainger; Ellis, Sendles-White, Happe; Caprice (Judd 90), Westbrooke, Dayton (Clay 80), Boco, Brophy; Bonne, Mooney (Harrold 72). Subs: Sargeant, Sotiriou. REFEREE: Neil Hair ATTENDANCE: 4,432. four minutes later as Morgan was penalised for handball at the other end and Adelsbury doubled the home side’s lead from the spot.

To their credit, Merthyr reacted immediately and Mo Touray dragged a shot just wide before Eliot Richard’s pulled a goal back when his fine volley gave goalkeeper Lloyd Irish no chance.

Nevertheless, Merthyr were unable to get the equaliser that would have forced a replay.