Market Drayton Town boss to rotate side after Leek defeat
Manager Martyn Davies plans changes to the side beaten at Leek on Saturday when Market Drayton host league leaders Atherton Collieries tomorrow– but not because of the 4-0 scoreline at Harrison Park.
“Leek took their chances really well but I felt that the margin of four goals was an injustice to us,” he said.
“If you could set aside their finishing and, in fairness, we have to admit you can’t ignore was killer class on the day, I honestly thought we were two pretty well matched sides.
“There’ll be changes for Tuesday evening, with our captain Daniel Beddows coming in, along with a new signing, Max Murphy on loan from Stoke.
“Atherton are obviously a big challenge for us on Tuesday, but changes are more down to squad rotation and availability than anything that happened at Leek.
“I honestly felt the side we had out on Saturday generally did well against strong opposition.”
Timothy Grice, who has become Leek’s all-time top scorer since joining them from Ecclestone eight years ago ahead of, among other clubs, Drayton Town, started Saturday’s spree with a fourth minute header.
It was the first of a fine hat-trick, the second coming with a scrappy toe-poke shot in the 67th minute and the last, another header, in the 80th minute.
It took his tally for the club to 170, but perhaps the most important in Saturday’s clash had come from Charlie Walford just three minutes into the second half.
That effectively ended what had become an increasingly promising fightback by Drayton making a determined effort after falling behind to that Grice opener.
They’d been denied an equaliser on several occasions, notably by home keeper Danny Roberts.
He made a great double save from a free-kick scramble in the 22nd minute and dived full stretch to beat out Ryan McLean’s powerful drive just before the interval.
But with a second goal in their locker, Leek grew in confidence, shaking clear of three successive Evo-Stik NPL West defeats to rekindle hopes among the bumper crowd of 381 that they can gain in a play off place.
They finished the day sixth in the table only a point behind Mossley and two ahead of Colne who have a game in hand.
Drayton also remained encouragingly placed at the other end of the table. With eight to play, they are still a comforting 11 points clear of the relegation zone, occupied by Kendal and Skelmersdale, who both lost at home to Trafford and Droylsden respectively.
