STRIKER Brett Ormerod admitted it was a huge relief to finally score his first goal for Wrexham.
Ormerod, who joined Wrexham from Blackpool in the summer, had failed to find the target in the opening 15 league games - he started eight of them - but finally got off the mark when he scored in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Southport in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round at The Racecourse.
Wrexham have received a home draw against fellow Conference side Alfreton in the first round and Ormerod was over the moon to get a first goal for the Reds.
“Obviously the results are the most important thing but the longer it goes on, the more it starts to feel a monkey on your back so it is utter relief to be honest,” said Ormerod, the only player to score in the top four divisions for Blackpool.
“I had another one disallowed and I thought, ‘here we go again, something is cursing me,’ but we wanted a positive result after last week and we got it.
“I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t been playing on my mind, obviously the results are most important and I have always said that.
“I’d rather me not score and we win week in, week out, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to score a goal.”
Ormerod netted after connecting with sub Nick Rushton’s pass and he was delighted the youngster picked him out.
“I was screaming at Rushy to play it inside and he did, he played me a great little ball,” said Ormerod. “I managed to turn, get it out of my feet and crack one into the bottom corner with my left foot.
“It also killed the game off at an important time because they were pushing so it killed off their challenge.”
Although desperate to start scoring goals, Ormerod insists the priority is helping the Reds try to win promotion.
“The main objective wasn’t for Brett Ormerod to come to Wrexham and try and score 20 goals and finish mid-table,” said Ormerod. “The objective is to try and chip in with a fair amount and try and help Wrexham get back in the Football League, that was always the plan and nothing has changed from that.”
Ormerod revealed he has been looking to get into the penalty area more often in a bid to break his duck.
“I’m trying to get into the box a lot more,” said Ormerod. “I think I have been used to linking up play for the last couple of years and probably not getting into the box as much as I should.
“As a striker, if you are missing chances you can always get on the training field and practice but when you are not getting them, it can be frustrating so I consciously made an effort to try and get into the box and link up a bit less, and it paid off today.”
An FA Cup finalist with Southampton who were beaten by Arsenal in the 2003 final, Ormerod, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Friday, is hoping more goals follow.
“I have been lucky in the FA Cup,” added Ormerod. “I have always been involved in good games and I was lucky enough to play in a final in 2003.
“I was 36 the other day so it is nice to start that calendar year off with a goal, so hopefully I might be able to get a few more.”