Market Drayton return in dynamic form
Market Drayton Town ended three weeks of a weather-enforced break with an impressive 1-0 win at Loughborough Dynamo.
It left manager Martyn Davies thinking in terms of a return to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South promotion play-offs.
He said: "Overall, I was very pleased. Ideally I'd have liked more goals, but we've got the result and played well enough.
"It shows we could soon be climbing back towards regaining a place in the top six.
"Although there was only one goal in it, and that left them with the hope of nicking a late equaliser, we fully deserved maximum points.
"Our defence was excellent, and much of our midfield passing was absolute class, especially in the first-half."
The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's southern section table is now so tight that, in theory at least, winning their next two games.
Both at home against Gresley and Carlton Town – could take Drayton to a heady joint third in the table alongside Shaw Lane Aquaforce.
The competition to get there, however, will be tougher than that offered by relegation-haunted Loughborough.
Town had on the back foot from as early as the seventh minute, when goalkeeper James Martin had to block Simon Everall's breakthrough.
Minutes later, the keeper had a let off as Cohen Bramall blasted a free-kick just over but he soon distinguished himself again diving at Craig Ryan's feet.
Michael O'Reilly joined in Town's assault with a free-kick that had to be scrambled away as Martin, in contrast to opposite number Ash Rawlins, was kept busy.
He did well keeping out two more efforts from Everall, saw Ryan's near post header zip wide.
They made the save of the match to deny James Bennett-Tindall's 20 yarder, before Town got their all-important 76th minute goal.
Paul McMullen and Jeff Watkins, who had shone in central defence, forced the breakthrough. McMullen made his customary impression on the opposition at a corner.
Watkins, picking up the lose ball, rounding a tackle and lashed the ball into the far corner, where defender Carl Sibson's attempted clearance only helped carry it over the line.
The afternoon ended with Scott Ryan – still waiting to hear if a move to Newtown will materialise – shooting wide from a one-on-one with Martin.
Davies said: "Scott's met with Newtown's management but nothing's been settled."
Meanwhile, Drayton have arranged a practice match with Telford Juniors on Wednesday at the Shrewsbury College all-weather pitch (7.45pm).
