Martyn Davies convinced Market Drayton Town will bounce back

Bottom-of-the-table Drayton host high flying neighbours Newcastle Town in a crucial Evo-Stick Northern Premier League South clash.

It’s a tall order as Drayton are now fast becoming isolated as not only a team that can’t win but one that can’t score either.

While their defence is statistically one of the most stable in the league, on current form they must play something akin to 160 minutes to score a goal.

Manager Martyn Davies will ring the changes for Newcastle’s visit and remains convinced that Town are in a temporary, if damaging phase, insisting: “It’s early days and there’s no panic; it’s just not happening for us at the moment but there’s an awful long way to go.

“This happens to every team at some stage of the season. We’ve got to remember that, knuckle down and get on with it. We’ve shown we can play well – the results will surely come.”

The break he believes will make a world of difference beckoned on Saturday when Corby had defender Connor Kennedy sent off after 15 minutes after a clash with Kevin Buxton and Town then scored on 44 when Jud Ellis clipped the ball over keeper Sam Wilson from good work down the wing by Glyn Coney and Kevin Buxton.

But they could not make anything of this advantage and, as Corby fought back with growing conviction in the second half, Town wilted and finally fell to what were admittedly two cracking goals.

Substitute Ben Diamond rose above a crowded goalmouth to convert Lee Beeson’s corner kick on the hour with a fine glancing header that whistled in inches from the foot of Drayton’s far post for their equaliser.

And with 13 minutes left, Beeson turned a fortunate free kick call by referee Blake Antrobus into a stunning winner, his inches-accurate shot curling and dipping in by the junction of bar and post.

Both gave Town keeper Ash Rawlins no chance and, to their credit, Drayton battled manfully to save the situation – but while often good individually, they could not got it together as a team.