Witton keeper Joe Clegg thwarts Market Drayton striker Mark Grice. Picture: Terry Morris

Gutsy Market Drayton came from a goal down to secure their first home win in the UniBond League – and what a scalp it was.

Witton Albion arrived as arguably the biggest name in the first division south, but Drayton showed fantastic belief to prove they could thrive at this level.

All the goals came in the second half – Duncan Horler, with his third in three games, and Martyn Davies, with a terrific winner, rightly claimed much of the plaudits.

But it was at the back that this game was truly won, with Drayton producing a sensational defensive performance capped by goalkeeper Andy Pryce.

He made a series of saves to keep Witton at bay and, even when he was beaten, fortune smiled upon him as the woodwork came to the rescue.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic because it was a very tough game,” said boss Simon Line. “They ran us around and they made us work extremely hard.

“For once, we’ve had to have a bit of luck – but with the amount of bad luck we’ve had since June that’s only a small percentage of what we’re owed.

“They hit the woodwork three times but I thought we should have been three up at half-time anyway, so in the end we got our just rewards and the lads were heroic.”

Drayton certainly had their chances in the first half, and might have been ahead inside nine minutes when debutant Darren Beech volleyed inches over.

Another new boy, striker Mark Grice, also seemed through on goal but lost time as he switched the ball from his left foot to his right, and his shot was charged down.

Witton gathered momentum as half-time approached and it took a terrific challenge from Gary Anslow to deny former Telford striker Steve Foster before Pryce leapt into action with a save from Stuart Rudd.

The tricky Bradley Maylett then tried an audacious lob on the counter-attack and was actually wheeling away to celebrate before seeing the ball drop on the roof of the net.

The deadlock was finally broken on 58 minutes when Foster pounced on a rare fluffed clearance by Paul McMullen and gave Pryce no chance.

But Drayton were level just three minutes later when Horler rose unmarked to power in a header off Jay Lawrence’s corner after terrific persistence from Grice to win the setpiece.

Witton rallied and put the hosts’ goal under terrific pressure, with skipper Booth heading against the bar before another effort struck the post.

Pryce also continued his evening to remember with a full-length diving save to keep out a Peter Heler effort.

Drayton snatched victory with seven minutes to go when substitute Paul Bowyer, with his first touch, hooked the ball on for Davies, who calmly side-footed a neat lob volley.

There was still time for Pryce to earn more acclaim as he denied Rudd yet again, and Drayton held on for a win they will never forget.

By Chris Hudson