Andy Pryce's reign as Market Drayton Town'snew manager began disappointingly as Kidsgrove roared back from being a goal down at the break with three second half strikes to take over top spot in the UniBond League South.

But player-manager goalkeeper Pryce, who is following in the managerial footsteps of Simon Line (now managing Hednesford), Lee Roberts and Matt Burton this hectic season, of reshuffles at Greenfields, was heartened by the way his new-look side pulled out all the stops against very accomplished opposition.

Twenty-one Town players made themselves available for this one - a sure sign that the dressing room is backing the popular Pryce, who is Town's longest serving player.

Tom Ward, out all season with an injury sustained in the pre-season build up, returned to play his heart out and new boys Dave Andrewatha and Ashley Burd, full backs Pryce signed from Bridgnorth earlier in the week, both gave a good account of themselves in demanding debuts.

Pryce said: "I was delighted with the attitude of everyone. The whole squad showed that they are backing the club to come out of what's been a difficult time for everyone these past two months.

"Everyone, without exception, gave maximum effort. It was just a little unfortunate that, at a time of transition, when people are still getting used to things at Town, we should come up against such very powerful opposition in Kidsgrove.

"We knew what to expect from them but unfortunately, were not able to contain them fully, although I do not think we were ever two goals short of them."

Pryce was beset by problems before this key UniBond League South match started.

His right hand man, coach Mick Murphy, pulled out with flue and family illness, obliging Pryce to take over on the touchline.

It's not where he wanted to start but, because of the major changes at Town in recent weeks, he was a lone guiding figure in the dugout, operating as coach, manager and assistant.

Town, sixth in the table, got off to a great start against their second-placed opponents when Gary Anslow's cunningly flighted free kick from the right curled in at the far post with only five minutes on the clock.

And Pryce's relatively inexperienced deputy in goal, Andrew Spooner, seemed to have settled  well as he made some fine saves to steady the understandable nerves in a reshuffled defence.

But Kidsgrove made their aerial dominance pay after the break, especially from set pieces. The impressive Matt Haddrell, who has that priceless ability to look slow and think and be fast when it matters most, snapped up an equaliser when Spooner could only partially push away a 49th minute corner.

And it was Haddrell, agains reacting quickly, who put Kidsgrove ahead near the hour mark when the ball fell kindly for him from a set piece scramble in which Spooner twice beat away shots.

Tom Schwartz hooked in a third for Kidsgrove from another corner on 66 minutes and while Drayton battled bravely and impressively to give Kidsgrove keeper Steve Intimar some hectic moments in goalmouth scrambles, the visitors finished worth the maximum points.

They were, as Pryce suggests, rather flattered by their two goal margin but they are obviously a side among the favourites to be in with a promotion shout at the end of the season.

As the old saying goes, Town will  play worse and get greater rewards against lesser opposition.