Drayton boss thinks Shaw Lane are top notch

And it's not Stafford Rangers, who currently lead the race by a massive 16-point margin.

His forecast after his side's 3-0 defeat to the Ducks, who chalked up their seventh successive league victory to move third with six games in hand over the leaders.

Davies said: "I'm sure it's going to be Shaw Lane Aquaforce. We were at far from full strength but I've no doubts we'd have struggled anyway. They are far too good for this division.

"They don't play as much football as some other leading teams but they are a big no-frills powerhouse; they really play to their strengths and, above all, they're relentless – they just keep coming at you."

Davies' judgement is well founded in experience for his squad have done amazingly well against the division's other leading title contenders on their own turf.

He's masterminded draws at Lincoln United, Leek, Chasetown, Coalville and Stafford – five of the current top seven clubs.

But on Saturday there was no point at which Town could realistically nurse any hopes of coming back with a positive result.

Lacking five likely starters, including the key central defensive duo of Paul McMullen and Jeff Watkins, Town were fortunate to reach the break only 2-0 down.

Their mainly young stand-ins strove hard to stem the tide, but Shaw Lane dominated with a scrambled goal from Lee Bennett on 36 minutes.

A superbly-worked second seven minutes later with James Wilshaw finishing off Gavin Allott's final pass.

Wilshaw had also hit the bar, shot wildly over and had a goal disallowed for offside, while hard-pressed Drayton could not muster a shot in reply.

Davies sent on his old guard – coaches Kevin Street and Nicky Porter – in the second half and their know-how helped delay the Ducks' third until the very last kick of the game, by Allott.

Davies admitted: "That was a bit hard on us as Cohen Bramall had earlier gone close to making it 2-1 but, overall we could have no complaints."