Market Drayton 2 Shepshed Dynamo 1

All the goals came in the opening 45 minutes but it was the second half that provided most of the entertainment for the fans with referee Steve Williams sending three players off and booking seven more.

Luke Barlone put the visitors in front after just three minutes but Town hit back through Tom Rogers on the half hour.

And on the stroke of half time Jamie Haynes curled home a wonder goal for what proved to be the winner.

The second half will be remembered most for the red card count with the officials struggling to keep a grip on a feisty affair.

Dyanmo's Dominic Reece was first to go for a dreadful two footed lunge on Town winger Nicky Porter on the hour.

Porter himself was lucky to stay on the field after he went in late on Danny Gaunt 12 minutes later but he escaped with a booking.

That tackle sparked a mass brawl with every player probably guilty of one offence or another.

In the end it was Town's Marc Stallard and Dynamo's Tom Bates who were sent off - for an alleged punch and a second yellow card respectively.

The leniency shown with Porter incensed the travelling fans - who outnumbered the home support in a crowd of 115 - and things threatened to turn ugly on the final whistle.

Fortunately order was restored and Town boss Andy Pryce was able to reflect on a hard-earned victory.

He said: "It's great to get three points. The people that want to be at the club now were at the club today - and everyone stood next to each other and gave me 120 per cent. Everything's got to move forward now.

"We were the better side first half - we played some really good football - and the second half was an absolute battle. The referee hasn't had a great game but we battled when we needed to."

Pryce felt the red card for Reece was warranted but admitted he was bemused as to why Town midfielder Stallard was sent off in the ensuing melee.

"From where I was their guy went in two-footed, our guy went in with one foot," he said.

"As soon as you leave the floor with two feet the referee's got no option but to send you off. We're disappointed because we don't know why Marc Stallard was sent off."

By ALEX JAMES