Nov 1, 2009
Market Drayton Town 10, St Martins 1
When, in their wisdom, the Shropshire Football Association revamped the county's cup competitions to exclude Market Drayton Town from the senior section, which it was decided should be for Shrewsbury Town and AFC Telford only, many sympathised with the Greenfields lads.
After winning the Midland Alliance league and cup double it seemed that they deserved more - but perhaps the county officials should have also have had more consideration for the likes of St Martins.
By most yardsticks, they play some five divisions below Drayton and to bundle them into the same Challenge Cup contest as Town was even more unfair than leaving Drayton out of the Senior Cup.
To their great credit, St Martins competed very well for the first 30 minutes or more. But in the last half hour, the clear differences between the teams, especially in fitness levels, told cruelly on them.
From being beaten but able to hold their heads high about the hour mark with a battling performance, their brave bunch of lads took a pounding they didn't really deserve as Town ran away with another five goals.
Chris Bishop scored the St Martins goal - a good one from a raid down the right - cancelling out a thunderous drive by Gary Anslow for Town's opener.
Gareth Gates and Martyn Davies had Town in front for the break and there was really no way back for the visitors after that.
They made a spirited start to the second half but inevitably ran out of steam.
Paul Bowyer, of all people, scored a hat-trick - including two with his right peg - Jason Frances roared up from full back to bag a brace, and Nicky Porter and Ken Vickers (own goal) rounded it off.
All good fun for the Town fans - but if ever there was an argument for the Shropshire FA to think again, this was it.
