Market Drayton Town's slide down the UniBond League South table continued as three give-away goals for the Mersysiders and as many attempted Town strikes that hit the woodwork underlined the deadly combination of defensive errors and unlucky finishing that's beset Town in recent weeks.

"The ball's just refusing to run for us at the moment," complained player-manager goalkeeper Andy Pryce, keeping goal for the first time as player manager.

"Tom Ward hit the post twice and we had a cross that bounced off the bar - on another night a couple of those would have gone in," he added.

"I can't fault the side for their effort. Everyone worked very hard again but we were guilty of giving them some sloppy goals and again missing a lot more ourselves."

This was Town's fifth consecutive defeat in a slide that's seen them tumble from being two points off the top of the table to eighth rung on the ladder.

Coach Mick Murphy said he could not remember a Town side going so long without picking up a point. "I don't think it has happened since the club was reformed, some seven seasons ago," he said.

"We were never three goals inferior to Cammell Laird - there were long periods of the game when we had them on the ropes, especially in the first half."

Town were very close to taking a dramatic second minute lead when Martyn Davies was clean through. But he pulled his shot wide - a mistake Chris Adamson did not repeat three minutes later when he snapped up a chance to score for Lairds.

It set the pattern for a surprisingly entertaining but ultimately ominous first half for Town.

Both sides had their chances playing good football in cold, windblown and difficult conditions. But it was the rather unlucky Town's inability to accept their opportunities that proved decisive - it helped Cammell Laird gradually grow in confidence.

And that, as they say, is largely the name of the game.

Lairds upped their pace after the break, clearly felt happy about taking a few more risks and got the reward in the form of a crucial 52nd minute goal from Adamson.

From there, they more or less took control, forcing a couple of fine saves from Pryce - including one with his right boot - before catching Town with a classic breakaway third from Ronnie Morgan 11 minutes from the end.

It was a cruel cut, started with the ball being given a hopeful hoof down the right by a hard-pressed defence, and then hammered long across field to where Morgan was unmarked and able to pick his spot.

Up to this point ,Town were still battling away bravely, trying to pull at least a goal back in the belief that they'd already shown enough potential firepower to quickly get another and, with it, at least the point they deserved.

At a grossly unfair three down, they still had their moments - but when Nicky Porter blasted a short range free kick over the bar from in front of goal it just about summed up their night.