Four points on the road for depleted Louth Town
Despite having 11 players unavailable, fast-improving Louth Town twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Dronfield Town on Saturday to make it five games unbeaten.
Boss Carl Martin was very happy to see his depleted squad make it four UCL Premier North points in the week, after the midweek 1-1 draw at Harrowby Town, and relieved to see a blank week ahead before Saturday's visit of Stapleford Town.
“It wasn't our greatest performance on Saturday, but with 11 unavailable, I was really pleased with the way the lads dug in and kept going,” he said.
“It has been tough over the last month or so with midweek game and six out of seven on the road and it has caught up with some players.
“We've been down to bare bones. So it's good we now have a free week to get back on the training ground ahead of Saturday as we have a lot of tired bodies.
“We even named our keeper Alex Lait on the bench on Saturday, who has a broken jaw, and a couple of the young lads from the reserves.
“Full credit to everyone and I would hope to have three or four back for the weekend.”
After going behind after three minutes at Dronfield, Theo Kitt-Bushell set up Jack McSpadden to level on the half-hour.
However, Dronfield restored their lead just three minutes later, but the White Wolves were level again on 39 minutes when a great cross in the box from Harvey Lidguard was met with a towering header from Alex Aldritch.
The winner came on 73 minutes as Bailey Wright's free kick saw Lidguard's finish saved but Bradley Coulam quickly follow-up to score.
“It wasn't a classic on Saturday, but it is a valuable three points on the road and pushes us up the table a few places,” said Martin.
“The midweek draw at Harrowby was pleasing too as they are a really good outfit.
“Again we went behind, a poor goal from our perspective from a set piece, but we made a few changes and the lads dug in second half and it was a great point on the road.”
Louth’s leveller at Harrowby came from Coulam on the hour from a Wright corner, Wright only on for eight minutes as part of a triple substitution.
After a poor run, Louth are now five unbeaten and have only lost once in nine games, sitting just out of the drop zone by only three points but with two games in hand.
Saturday’s in-form opponents Stapleford Town are in the play-off plaaces in fifth position.