Circus time as Wrens fight back against Market Drayton

The circus was at Kirklington Road on its annual visit and for long periods of the game Rainworth were determined to be part of it.

This Evo-Stik Division One South encounter didn’t follow the script as the Wrens failed to turn up for most of the match.

Earlier in the season Rainworth visited Market Drayton and won 4-1 against a side that looked contenders for relegation.

How things have changed since then as, with a change of manager, Market Drayton had won their previous two games and started moving quickly up the table.

Both sides began cautiously, and it wasn’t until the ninth minute that either side worked an opening, on this occasion Rainworth’s Jordan Ball almost found Jamie Clarke, but Market Drayton were able to clear.

Then in the 11th minute the Wrens reverted to their kamikaze defending style, when they failed to clear in their penalty area and Nick Porter placed his shot into the corner of the net, giving Jamie Martin no chance.

After last Saturday’s magnificent rearguard action against table-toppers Leek Town, the defending had a ‘Keystone Cops’ feel to it, although Porter’s finish was sublime.

The fans feared the worst. Was this to be one of those days when Rainworth didn’t perform?

When in the 15th minute Delroy Fox’s free kick cleared the bar the consensus was, yes, it looks like it will be.

That was until the 22nd minute when, from a corner, Clarke’s weak header was lashed home by Ashley Longstaffe for the equaliser. Were Rainworth now going to get back into the game and reproduce the game plan that has proved successful for large periods of the season so far?

As quickly as optimism rose, so it was dashed as Mark Dudley missed his tackle on Rob Stevenson and Yannick Makota placed the ball into the net.

Market Drayton were now in the ascendency, but it was Rainworth who had the best chance, when in the 31st minute Longstaffe’s turn and shot just cleared the crossbar. Longstaffe was to have another chance, but from Ball’s pass he shot over the bar.

The remainder of the half was all Market Drayton and in the 38th minute Fox looked to have scored, only for Martin to make an excellent save.

This was followed by a great cross from Stevenson, only for Makota to put it wide when it seemed easier to score.

Still Rainworth hadn’t learned and, when Stevenson crossed yet again, this time it was played into the path of Porter, who made no mistake.

The whistle went to end a half to forget for Rainworth and with Market Drayton well worth their 3-1 lead.

For the first 15 minutes of the second half Rainworth could make no impression and Market Drayton always carried a threat.

Then out of nothing a Kieran Walker long throw was met by Clarke’s head and found the back of the net to give Rainworth a glimmer of hope in a game in which up to then they had been second best.

This was to be the turning point as Rainworth started to pressurise with a succession of long throws that caused Market Drayton serious problems.

From one such throw, Longstaffe shot over the bar and in another they somehow managed to clear. It was now which would come first the referee’s whistle or a Rainworth goal as they laid siege.

The goal almost came from yet another long throw when Walker struck the crossbar, quickly followed by a Callum Lloyd shot that flashed across the goal mouth.

Just when it seemed that Market Drayton would survive, a fine move found Clarke and he hit his shot into the corner of the goal for the equaliser with the final opportunity of the afternoon.

It was a strange match in which Market Drayton must have been gutted not to have taken all three points as for two thirds of the match they had been the team most likely to win.

However, the last 20 minutes belonged to Rainworth and at the final whistle they were the only team likely to score.

RAINWORTH: Martin; Walker; Dudley; Lloyd; Varley; Saunders; Cullingworth (Hanson 88); Magee; Longstaffe; Clarke; Ball (Rickards 78) Subs(not used); Hawkins; Gregory; Rogers.

REFEREE; Mr Andy Newbould.

WRENS’ MAN OF THE MATCH: Jamie Clarke.