Assistant Darren Williams reckons the red carding of Sheffield defender James Kay scuppered his chances of chalking up a shock success in his first game as Market Drayton Town’s gaffer.

“When Sheffield had 11 men I reckon we had their measure – when they were one short, they made us really struggle,” said Williams, standing in for boss Neill Woolliscroft who is on a business trip to America.

Kay’s departure, for a desperate two-footed tackle that put Jamie Haynes out of the game, came late in the first half, when Town were leading 2-1 and running rings around their highly rated opponents.

“At half-time I had to pinch myself,” admitted Williams.

“For once, everything seemed to be going for us. We were playing very well, ahead on merit and, with them a man short, had every reason to feel confident of getting a result.

“But as so often happens when a good side is reduced to 10 men, Sheffield became more determined, a yard quicker and much, much better after the break.”

The game followed a remarkably similar pattern to Sheffield’s 4-2 win at Greenfields last month.

They took an early lead, again through top scorer Connor Higginson, were pegged back by a spirited Town rally but then found another gear and pulled away, this time with big striker Ash Longstaff playing a key role, scoring in the 52nd and 87th minutes and setting up David Graham’s goal between times.

Town had equalised though Martyn Davies with a close range header on 19 minutes and scored again on 29 with an astonishing strike from an outstanding Stuart Ellis, volleying the ball home from almost the half way line with a ferocity that reduced the 460-plus home fans to stunned silence.

“It was an absolutely fantastic shot . . . the best non-League goal I’ve ever seen,” said Williams.

But the boost it gave Drayton was short lived and while Sheffield, went top of the division, Town are now one point off bottom having played two games more than backmarkers Quorn, who pulled off the surprise result of the season so far, 3-2 against previous leaders Ilkeston.

To add to Town’s woes, Haynes is very doubtful for tomorrow’s big home game for their fans, the Staffordshire Senior Cup tie visit of Port Vale, and Ellis could miss the tie through work commitments.

By TERRY MORRIS