Wrexham 1-0 Weymouth - Jordan Davies nets delicious winner

Davies 29

WEYMOUTH 0

WEYMOUTH lost 1-0 at the Racecourse Ground as Jordan Davies provided a blockbuster free-kick to give Hollywood-backed Wrexham all three points in their Vanarama National League clash.

The Terras defended with all their might to keep a direct and energetic Wrexham attack at bay, but they could do nothing about Davies’ moment of quality in the 29th minute.

Weymouth had little to shout about in front of goal, their best moment coming through a stoppage-time chance for Martell Taylor-Crossdale which flashed just wide.

Despite the result, Weymouth bizarrely moved out of the relegation zone.

Maidenhead’s 4-0 loss to Solihull submerged them into the bottom three on goal difference, with Weymouth’s tally now two goals healthier than the Kent side’s.

READ MORE: Wrexham 1-0 Weymouth - how it happened

With Southend also losing, Weymouth boss Brian Stock will take a small crumb of comfort from Weymouth’s fifth consecutive league loss.

He made three changes to the side that began the 2-1 loss to Torquay United last time out.

Taylor-Crossdale, Cameron Murray and Omar Mussa dropped to the bench, while Andy Robinson was recalled to the starting XI. Tom Blair also earned a start.

There was also a place in the dugout for new midfield signing Tom Solanke, the ex-West Brom midfielder joining following a successful trial period with the Terras.

Tom Solanke, left, made his Weymouth debut Picture: MARK PROBIN

Wrexham, who were bought by A-list stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney last season, have spent big and came into the game in seventh after other results sucked them down from fourth.

The Red Dragons started with an intensity that kept Weymouth pegged in their defensive third as Aaron Hayden tried his luck from distance in the second minute.

Wrexham won numerous corners in the first half and, when Ben Morgan blocked Bryce Hosannah’s shot behind, Ben Tozer was there to nod the set-piece over.

Weymouth retaliated when Robinson dragged a shot wide from 25 yards but Wrexham were soon back on the offensive.

Terras’ left-back Ollie Harfield conceded a corner and Jake Hyde flicked a header over.

Paul Mullin, top scorer in League Two last season for Cambridge United, then fired at away keeper Ross Fitzsimons.

Weymouth were having to almost exclusively defend as Morgan whisked the ball away from Hyde before Taofiq Olomowewe swept up to concede a corner.

After clearing the set-play, the break was on but Josh McQuoid’s sloppy pass put Solanke in trouble and he conceded a foul on Tozer.

It was from this free-kick that Wrexham scored, Davies whipping the ball up and over a wall that offered no jump, opening the scoring.

Weymouth weathered more pressure before Blair seized on a loose pass from Luke Young, driving at goal and winning a corner.

Leon Davies was tasked with the delivery but the quality was lacking and Wrexham had no trouble in clearing.

Weymouth's Leon Davies, left Picture: MARK PROBIN

Into the second half, Mullin fired well over as Weymouth gifted the striker possession.

Wrexham sub Jordan Ponticelli kept building pressure with a searching run into the box and shot across goal.

Morgan was there again to block from Davies before Mullin inexplicably missed after a deflected cross fell kindly to him.

Weymouth rung the changes with McQuoid, Blair and Brandon Goodship coming off in the space of 10 minutes for Martell Taylor-Crossdale, Omar Mussa and Sean Shields.

The alterations gave Weymouth late impetus as Leon Davies struck a shot over.

Weymouth had still not seriously tested Wrexham keeper Rob Lainton and the hosts continued to look dangerous right until the end.

With 87 minutes on the clock, Davies went in search of his second goal from a free-kick, only for Fitzsimons to get down sharply and keep the attempt out.

There was a late scare when Morgan’s poor ball allowed Ponticelli a sight of goal, only for Weymouth to survive the chance.

It set up a tense finale for the hosts as Weymouth pushed forward for what, on balance, might have been an undeserved point.

First, Taylor-Crossdale went down in the box amid loud Weymouth calls for a penalty, which fell on deaf ears with the officials.

Martell Taylor-Crossdale saw a late chance go begging Picture: MARK PROBIN

In the 92nd minute Taylor-Crossdale was then set up by an enterprising run from Mussa, only to lash his shot across goal and wide of Lainton’s far upright.

It meant Wrexham held on to move back into fourth, while Weymouth jumped into 20th.

Wrexham: Lainton, Hall-Johnson, Hayden, Tozer, Cleworth, Hosannah, Young, Davies, J Jones, Hyde (Ponticelli 46), Mullin. Subs not used: Dibble, Green, French, Thomas.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Davies, Morgan, Cordner, Goodship (Taylor-Crossdale 68), McQuoid (Mussa 62), Robinson, Blair (Shields 73), Solanke, Harfield, Olomowewe. Subs not used: Leslie-Smith, Murray.

Referee: Thomas Parsons

Attendance: 7,530 (16 from Weymouth)