Market Drayton Town suffer defeat during interim process after boss departure

Troubled Market Drayton Town fell to a 2-0 defeat at rivals Crewe under caretaker management after last week’s departure of Dave Lloyd.

Lloyd and assistant Adam Proudlock, appointed in the summer, departed the Balufab Stadium after a poor run of results.

They have been replaced in the interim period by former Shrewsbury Town, Stoke and Burnley frontman Andy Cooke, who ended his playing days at Greenfields, and club legend and coach Nigel Wellings.

The pair were unable to halt the struggle in form as Town fell to another defeat in North West Counties First Division South last weekend, to leave the side down in 16th.

Newly-promoted Crewe clinched a 2-0 victory with a goal in either half to condemn the Gingerbread Men to an eighth defeat in a winless run of 10 games in all competitions.

Walker Stone netted the opener after half hour for Crewe and also struck five minutes after the restart. The visitors leapfrogged their hosts with the win.

Drayton goalkeeper Shaun Rowley, the former Shrewsbury youngster, was his side’s standout performer to help keep the deficit to two.

The hosts’ support continued in impressive numbers despite a struggle for form of late, as an attendance of 201 inside the Bulufab Stadium kept Drayton’s gates among the largest in the First Division South this season.

Town look to arrest a slide in form with a tricky test on the road to in-form Barnton on Saturday.

The club have said the caretaker management team of Cooke and former defender Wellings will continue “while the club works towards making the right permanent appointments.”

A statement added: “We would like to thank everyone who has expressed an interest in the position and appreciate the support shown to the club during this period.”

Saturday’s Cheshire hosts Barnton are up to seventh, two points off the play-offs, and have not lost in league action since early August.