Paul Bowyer narrowly fails to connect with Belper goalkeeper Ian Ogden. Picture by Sue Wilson

Despite a traumatic finish, Market Drayton Town have still enjoyed the greatest year in their short history.

And boss Andy Pryce summed up the determination at Greenfields, insisting they will strive to make 2010 just as special.

The north Shropshire side won the Midland Alliance last season to secure promotion to the UniBond League division one south for the first time ever.

They made a sensational start at their new level, their form eventually seeing then-manager Simon Line take on a new challenge with Hednesford Town – and take a handful of players with him.

But, after a tumultuous couple of months that saw both Lee Roberts and Matt Burton enter then vacate the top job, Pryce is now steadying the ship.

And he sees no reason why they should not continue to be ambitious in the year ahead and look for more success.

“The chairman has said that all he wants is for us still to be in the UniBond South at the beginning of August,” goalkeeper-boss Pryce revealed.

“We’re quietly confident that we’re already as good as safe and that was our only aim at the start of the season.

“But, looking at the league, we’re in a good position and we have a good enough squad that we might just nick a place in the play-offs and we’ll give it a go.”

Pryce admits promotion would be a financial concern as the club are already struggling to compete on anywhere near even terms at this level.

But they are planning to make the necessary ground improvements next month – improving the pitch perimeter fencing as well as providing extended covered areas and extra hard standing ground.

“Whether promotion is asking too much off the field, I don’t know,” added the rookie manager.

“It just gets more expensive and, as a little club, we are already struggling financially at this level.

“We’re talking about a budget which is half of the budget of an average club in this league, so it’s

unbelievable how well we’ve done.

“But our players are not here for the money. They enjoy playing for this club and at this level.”

Whatever the future holds, it is certain that 2009 will go down as a truly remarkable one at Greenfields.

“The calendar year has been absolutely phenomenal for Market Drayton,” added Pryce.

“To be top of the Midland Alliance for most of last season, to win promotion and win the league cup as well was a great achievement.

“The start we had in the UniBond League was

unbelievable, and it’s only the events at the latter end of the year that have unsettled the whole team.

“We’re coming through that now, though. Having two lads (Paul McMullen and Gary Anslow) come back from Hednesford has given everyone a little bit of a buzz going into 2010.”