Striker Martyn spurned a golden chance

By TERRY MORRIS

Bowled over by bully-boy tactics, Market Drayton Town could find no way back at Goole after missing a crop of early chances to get their UniBond League South clash off to a flying start.

Dave Howells and Martyn Davies somehow managed to miss two golden opportunities in the first 10 minutes and Tom Rogers followed their lead by squandering an opportunity to equalise soon after Ashley Worsfield had picked up a sloppy 15th minute first goal for the home side.

“Had we picked up those easy chances, it just might have been a different matter,” Drayton boss Simon Line lamented afterwards.

“We had them in trouble early but those escapes gave them heart to come back at us strongly and we just could not cope with their very physical approach. We let ourselves be bullied.

“Their opening goal came from a big hoof down the middle. They charged in and we let the ball bounce twice before they put it in the net. We normally defend much better than that.”

Goole’s second, by Grant Allott shortly before the interval, and third, from Terry Barwick near the end, both came from corners which Line considers should have been cleared.

“We gave them a free volley from 12 yards for the last one,” he complained.

That said, the Town boss says his squad deserve some sympathy for the way fates conspired against them.

Injury and suspension cost them the services of defensive strongmen Jason Francis and Gary Anslow and both their influential wingers, Nicky Porter and Stuart Ellis, were unavailable.

On top of that, Rogers was unlucky to have a second half goal disallowed for a very tight offside call while Paul McMullen and Howells, again, scooped the ball over the Goole bar from inside the six yard box.

“We might not have played particularly well but it must be said that we certainly suffered some bad luck too,” said a clearly-frustrated Line.

“The good thing is we don’t have a game this week so we can concentrate on putting things right with two really good training sessions before we entertain Loughborough next Saturday.”