Market Drayton Town’s roller-coaster campaign rattled on to new heights – and depths – with another remarkable performance last night.

Any suggestion that they might win their UniBond League Challenge Cup tie at powerful Rushall Olympic 3-1 was laughable during the half-hour before the game.

The odds against Drayton’s largely second-choice side showing seven changes from Saturday’s 4-2 home win over Quorn shot up as key defender Grant Goodhead and reserve keeper Andy Spooner were injured in the pre-match warm-up.

And they positively rocketed when, 10 minutes into the tie, Town’s keeper and skipper, Andy Pryce was helped off with a knee injury, leaving striker Martyn Davies to stand in as their last line of defence.

It didn’t get any better. After battling well for most of the first half, Drayton were trailing at the break having gifted a goal to Rushall’s Mark Lowe.

But, true to their growing reputation for besting the bookies, Town turned everything around with three goals in a magical 15 minute spell at the start of the second half.

Duncan Horler took flight to hang in the air for what seemed ages heading an equaliser, Tom Ward’s spin turn and snap shot from the edge of the box sent them ahead and when Stuart Timmis was upended in the penalty area, Jamie Haynes stepped up to hammer home their third.

Rushall couldn’t believe it – and they had even more difficulty coming to terms with the closing half hour when, despite constant, sometimes desperate pressure, they were denied any chance of a comeback.

“It was a great performance, especially in that last half hour,” said Drayton manager Simon Line afterwards. “Martyn Davies was terrific in goal and all the lads who came into the side did themselves proud.

“Everything seemed to conspire against us early on but it appears that the harder it gets, the better we become.

“We’ve a big game coming up Saturday with Gainsborough Trinity visiting in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup so this was a tremendous boost for our confidence.

“Everyone’s up for Saturday – and while I’ll have a difficult task deciding who plays, on this showing I know that whover I pick will do a great job.

“We’ll have a full-on training session tomorrow and see where we go from there,” he added.

The injuries to both keepers are Line’s major worry but the successful return of top scorer Ward, out since being injured in a pre-season friendly, and Davies’s display between the sticks gives him unexpected options.

By Terry Morris