Market Drayton Town manager Simon Line is backing his men to finish the season as champions when they claim promotion.

Promotion? Pie in the sky surely, for a side whose Evo-Stick League South survival struggle deepened in Saturday’s emphatic home defeat against Grantham.

Not so. For Line’s focus is tomorrow night’s Shropshire Challenge Cup semi-final against Hanwood United at Wem Town’s ground.

“We’ve got to put Saturday behind us and concentrate on beating Hanwood and then going on to win the cup,” said the Drayton boss.

“We’re already assured of being promoted back into the Shropshire Senior Cup next season but I would dearly love us to go up as champions of the Challenge Cup competition.

“It’s our only chance to win a trophy this year and despite our league worries, I’m sure we have the determination and ability to do it.

” Hanwood are a good side and it will be a tough game but we really want to go all the way in this one.”

Line’s conviction is strengthened by a closer look at Saturday’s league setback.

For Town were in trouble before a ball was kicked.

A back four of Olly Turton, Paul McMullen, Marc Stallard and Ashley Burd were all ruled out through injury or illness — the last being Stallard who failed a physio test before the game.

It meant a completely new defensive unit of Simon Gregory, Bobby Spooner, striker Tom Ward and Sean Jones had to be thrown together against a rampant Grantham side beaten just once in their previous 19 games.

With further injuries to Jason Francis and Nicky Porter disrupting midfield and attack, Drayton were often made to look a side from the wrong end of the table.

The only clear-cut plus was a five star performance from goalkeeper Andy Spooner, fully justifying his selection ahead of fit-again first choice Andy Pryce, and some brave, desperate individual defending, Drayton might suffered a far greater setback.

Sean Jones had already cleared the ball off the line before Sam Periscoe neatly put Grantham ahead on 23 minutes with more coming 11 minutes later from Jamie McGee and the industrious Gio Carchedi eight minutes from the end.

The only really dangerous threat Drayton could muster was when striker Tom Ward, pressed into service as central defender to help an inexperienced rearguard, headed a free kick inches over the bar.

For Drayton, who had won four survival points from their two previous games, both away, it was another bitter home disappointment. They have now taken only 11 points at their Greenfields HQ this season against 16 on the road.

By TERRY MORRIS