Drayton's Nicky Porter is stopped by Mickleover's strong man Joe Carter. Picture by Terry Morris

New Market Drayton Town manager Lee Roberts flew back from holidaying in Malta to watch his side come down to earth with a bump in this UniBond League Challenge Cup clash with Mickleover Sports.

Roberts, who landed in the early hours, found many of his players half asleep too in a below-performance. “I was disappointed; the lads were disappointed – it was a pretty disappointing evening all round,” he admitted.

“I didn’t think there was too much between us but they got the breaks.”

After two good wins, against Leek and Stamford, Town were often in trouble against a lively Mickleover side who played some of the best attacking football seen at Greenfields this season. Typically, Drayton battled well and often made the visiting defence look vulnerable – especially when Nicky Porter was on the move – but they lacked cohesion.

The gaps left in their ranks by injuries and the recent departure of several players, following former manager Simon Line’s move to Hednesford, were there to see.

The three men brought in to strengthen their depleted squad – defender Marc Stallard from Wellington Amateurs and subs David Howells (back from Bridgnorth) and Gareth Gates, recently returned from working in the United States – all did pretty well.

So too did their regulars and players who, a short while ago, were not generally considered first choice.

But all clearly need time to adjust to Town’s enforced re-shuffle and until they do, teams like Mickleover, with some wise heads, pretty handy youngsters and expensive talents like outstanding ex-Derby man-of-the-match Kieran O’Connell, will take advantage.

It just might have been different if Town had got what seemed a clear second half penalty when Martyn Davies was fouled – or substitute keeper Andrew Spooner had enjoyed a little luck when, after making a brave 76th minute save, he saw John Guy’s follow-up shot squeeze in.

That put Mickleover into a 3-1 lead, ending hopes of a Town rally after Davies’s 65th minute reply to good earlier Mickleover goals by Eric Graves (21 minutes) and Alex Steadman (60).

Paul Bowyer headed a late consolation after an excellent cross by Gates.