REPORT: Dronfield continue excellent start to the season

Dronfield Town continued their excellent start to the season, moving up to fourth in the Northern Counties East League Division One table with a 2-0 win away at Nostell Miners Welfare. Dronfield dominated the first half but only had Joe Pearson’s 32nd minute header to show for their efforts. Nostell came more into the game during the second 45 minutes but Danny Wood’s 80th minute strike eased the nerves and saw Town to victory in torrential conditions. Dronfield take a break from action on Saturday but return next Tuesday when Athersley Recreation are the visitors to the HE Barnes Stadium.

Gloomy conditions at the Crofton Community Centre were a precursor to the torrential rain to follow but Dronfield started brightly on a good playing surface. After Matty Ord had placed a 25 yard free kick comfortably over the target on 10 minutes, a teasing ball from Charlie Stewart just evaded the head of Sam Bebbington three minutes later.

On 14 minutes, Dronfield skipper Lewis Naylor made a super save from Nostell’s Brandan Miller from close range; the first of two crucial first half stops by the Town custodian.

Owen Lester shot through a crowd of players from 18 yards, bringing out a save from Nostell’s Rhys Westcarr and Naylor pulled off his second big stop on 21 minutes.

Harvey Walker fed the lively Joe Wood but Naylor was alert to the danger, saving with his legs from 6 yards out.

Nevertheless, Dronfield spent long spells in the Nostell half. On 32 minutes, a Connor Chapell cross from the right flank missed defenders and attackers alike, bouncing uncomfortably over Westcarr’s crossbar.

The deadlock was broken just a minute later. A testing cross from the left by Charlie Stewart was met by the head of midfielder Joe Pearson, whose glancing effort found the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Nostell made a couple of substitutions at the start of the second half – a visibly limping Wood being replaced by the pacy Tawheed Ahmed and Liam Owen coming on for Nicky Lalousis.

The changes appeared to pay dividends as Owen found a gap in the Dronfield rearguard but placed his shot wide with the goal at his mercy on 59 minutes.

Dronfield introduced attacker Danny Wood with 15 minutes remaining but not before Owen again managed to test Naylor, this time from the edge of the area.

Dronfield’s nerves were eased on 80 minutes when Wood got the match winning goal. A long ball forward saw Wood have the presence of mind to lift it over Westcarr and into the net to make it 2-0.

The goal was a hammer blow to the home side, all but sealing the points for Town. However, Naylor was called into action once again in added time, saving at point blank range from Nostell sub Eliel Anku to ensure a clean sheet was kept.

The win sees Dronfield climb into fourth in the table following three wins, a draw and just a single defeat; 7 of their 10 points coming on the road in a pleasing start to the new campaign.

Town take a break from the action, having no game this coming Saturday but welcome Athersley Recreation to the HE Barnes Stadium on Tuesday 23rd August for a 7.45pm kick off.

Nostell Miners Welfare: Westcarr, Lalousis, Miller, Allsop, Atkinson, Gordon, Wood, Penny-Larter, Booth, Walker, Smith. Subs: Ahmed, Owen, Ormsby, Anku, Dickinson.

Dronfield Town: Naylor, Mike Fereday, Stewart, Lester, Wright, Bovill, Chapell, Pearson, Bebbington, Mawbey, Ord. Subs: Riley, Rooke, Lindores, Wood, Knight.

Attendance: 67