A flurry of transfer activity didn’t quite gel for Simon Line as his hopes of a winning return to Market Drayton Town were dashed in this losing UniBond League South clash at Grantham.

Line, who had resumed his old job as manager just two days before, after a three month spell with Hednesford, was able to field only one of three transfer targets – teenage Stoke City apprentice striker Adam Vickers who made a good impression as a lively second half sub.

A surprise 11th hour intervention by Stafford Rangers robbed him of Drayton old boy Grant Goodhead’s signature late on Thursday, about the time it was hoped he’d be signing the defender from Hednesford.

And another Town returnee from Hednesford, midfielder James Carvey, could not put pen to paper until Saturday morning – too late to face Grantham.

But there was still plenty about Saturday’s performance to keep Line upbeat.

“If we’d carried on playing like we did before the

interval, when we conceded two soft goals, it would be a different story . . . but the lads put in a cracking second half performance,” he said.

“They were all over them and finished desperately unlucky not to get at least a point.

“We were attacking so much I think just about everyone apart from our goalkeeper, Steve Taylor, had a shot or header at goal.

“I still can’t believe none of those efforts went in. But the great thing is that we finished on a high and going well – more of that sort of form and we’ll soon be getting the results again.”

Not helped by their lengthy journey, one of the most demanding in the league programme, Town’s defence were desperately short of direction and determination as Grantham picked up a fourth minute lead.

Lee Potts fired home his easy chance, finishing off the sort of routine move Drayton’s defenders would normally expect to anticipate and deal with comfortably.

Concentration and confidence was also lacking when Potts put Grantham two-up and at this stage, with just 25 minutes gone, Town were truely struggling.

Two unlucky incidents added to the sense of foreboding among their handful of supporters.

First Paul McMullen headed a demanding set piece chance against the bar and then Tom Rogers, clean through with only the keeper to beat, clipped a golden opportunity wide.

This was on the stroke of half time and that, in itself, could have had dire consequences. But Town picked themselves up and won back a lot of pride, if not the points, with a storming revival.

Line was so impressed that he’s trying to find a club his side can play in a friendly tomorrow evening before Saturday’s league trip to Belper.

By Terry Morris