Market Drayton take on Quorn at Greenfields on Wednesday with hopes of pocketing their first Evo-Stik League South points of the season boosted by this FA Cup qualifier at King’s Norton, writes TERRY MORRIS.

There’s a new spring in their stride, buoyed by the conviction that Lady Luck, having positively beamed on Saturday’s cup endeavours, will now start smiling their way in the league.

Manager Simon Line admitted that they repaid in full the misfortunes heaped upon Town this season, leaving them struggling at the foot of the table.

For Pilkington somehow let slip a string of clear cut early chances.

“Our luck certainly changed,” said Line. “We could have been out of it after half an hour and we were lucky not to be three of four down at the break, instead of a goal up.

“We’ve not been getting the results some good performances warranted. We deserved a break — and this was it. Now we can move on.”

Andy Hibbert, Pilkington’s assistant manager, complained: “We battered them for the first half hour and should have gone out of sight.

“We messed up three one-on-ones and had two clear heading opportunities but missed them too.”

Throw in some blinding saves by Town keeper Andy Pryce and you have a rough measure of Pilkington’s dominance. Line said: “Pryce saved us; he was in great form.”

Arguably Town’s biggest break came when full back Adam Guest clipped striker Mark Grice’s ankle as he shot just wide.

Amid howls of disbelief from the home fans, Martyn Davies fired home the 42nd minute penalty and a dramatic turnaround had begun.

Rotund

Town made their own luck after the break, more or less running the show as they sealed a £3,000 cup pay day for the club.

Their defence took a firm grip on everyone except the hugely rotund but deceptively skilled Pilkington ringmaster, Michael Glynn, the midfield began to look good and the front men deserved to score long before their second goal in the 88th minute.

Tom Rogers was the marksman, maintaining his happy habit of hitting the net as substitute.

But it was created superbly by Steve Jagielka, having his most impressive game yet — and that could be the best of of Town’s good fortune.