I don’t know why I’m highlighting this particular game because I tell everyone “don’t mention Market Drayton.”
But word this week that they had lost 7-0 (no Market Drayton, not Man Utd) to Racing Club, Warwick and sat bottom of the Midlands League stirred those bad vibes again.
You may remember Workington Reds went to Market Drayton and the way the game panned out a win would have clinched the NPL West title and promotion.
I had been looking forward to the trip for a while as my late father had always gone on about how nice a place it was.
“Make sure you get to Market Drayton some time,” he used to tell me.
Apparently before the War he had been stationed at Colchester and took a week’s leave to stay at Market Drayton with his sister.
She’d just had a baby and dad spent hours wheeling the pram round the town, exploring what he found to be a lovely place.
Well, in April 2022, I was there as Reds went in search of promotion against a team which had conceded over 100 goals and had been relegated for weeks.
Unbelievably we drew 1-1 when just one more goal would have given us the title as Rylands were held to a draw at home.
Despite 75 per cent plus possession, numerous chances, twice hitting the woodwork, forcing 15 corners and seeing their keeper make two outstanding saves, we could only draw.
“Market Drayton, I won’t be back!” would have been my message to dad if he had still been with us.
The rest is history as they say. We had to settle for the play-offs and lost our home semi-final in extra-time to Marine.
Checking on Market Drayton I found they are now rock bottom with only four points (a win and a draw from 29 games) and destined already for a second successive relegation.
It looks like a second successive season in the play-offs for Reds, so here’s hoping they make no mistake this time and we don’t produce another Market Drayton performance.
