REPORT: Sadly familiar for Dronfield as they slip to Armthorpe defeat

It felt all too familiar for Dronfield Town as despite another competitive display, they went down by the odd goal in five against Armthorpe Welfare. After a busy yet goalless first half, the game sprung into life as Ahren Rogers and William Gomes shot the visitors into the lead. Max Rhodes pulled one back almost immediately and set up an intriguing last ten minutes with his second of the evening. However, Dronfield allowed Rogers too much freedom once again and veteran ex-Rotherham United striker Marc Newsham sealed all three points for the Doncaster-based side. The position at the foot of the table doesn’t change due to the abandonment of the game between Shelley and Nostell MW but Dronfield have now more played more games than the sides around them. Next up for the Derbyshire outfit is the visit of seventh-placed Ilkley Town to S18 on Saturday.

Both teams made a committed start to the game but lack of quality in front of goal meant the first half ended goalless. A lovely ball from Callum Riley put Sam Bebbington in the clear but a very late flag from the assistant referee put a stop to Dronfield’s sixth minute attack. To level matters up, Armthorpe’s Ahren Rogers found himself in similar circumstances just five minutes later.

Dronfield’s approach play was very effective but failure to be clinical in front of goal was to cost them. On 21 minutes, a flowing move ended with Matty Ord firing straight at Joshua Cadman in the Armthorpe goal and then moments after, a vital challenge by Andrew Wright prevented Max Rhodes getting a shot off when in a useful position in the area.

Ryan Ellison hooked off the line as Connor Chapell’s free kick caused havoc in the Wellie box but the visitors went immediately up the other end with William Gomes’ low cross fizzing across the goalmouth unconverted.

Ord’s useful shot from 25 yards on 35 minutes forced Cadman into another stop and the back and forth nature of the contest continued as Rogers left footed effort evaded Jake Balme’s left hand post.

The half came to a close as Rhodes found himself free in the box but he scuffed his shot wide of the post with the goal at his mercy.

The goals did eventually come but when they arrived, it was Armthorpe who claimed a two goal lead.

On 56 minutes, Ahren Rogers was allowed too much time at the edge of the penalty area and his left-footed poke sneeked past Balme and into the corner of the net to put Armthorpe up by 1-0.

They claimed their second eight minutes after. Dronfield appealed for an offside that was clearly never going to materialise, allowing Alfie Charlotte free in the left channel. Charlotte had the easiest task of squaring to Gomes to tap home and double the visitors lead.

To their credit, it didn’t take long for Town to pull one back. Dronfield had a couple of bites at the cherry in a goalmouth scramble but the ball eventually fell to Max Rhodes who steered it home at 1-2.

Rhodes set up an intriguing final ten minutes by claiming his second of the game. A ball into the box saw Dronfield’s leading hitman spin and slot home from close range for his 22nd of the campaign and to level the encounter at 2-2.

Rather than pushing on for a much-needed victory, another defensive lapse cost Dronfield at least a share of the points. Once again, Rogers was allowed too much freedom at the edge of the box and when his shot came in, substitute Marc Newsham was on hand to deflect it into the net and wrap up the three points for the Doncaster-based side.

Dronfield’s position remains the same in twentieth on 29 points in front of Appleby Frodingham, who closed the gap to 7. Nostell MW share Dronfield’s points tally in nineteenth but the abandonment of their game against Shelley means that they have played two games less than Chris Millington’s men. Next up for the North Derbyshire side is the visit of Ilkley Town, who they claimed a 4-0 win against in October.

Dronfield Town: Balme, Thorpe J, Riley, Lester, Gladwin, Wright, Chapell, Stewart, Rhodes, Bebbington, Ord. Subs: Siddons, Lindores, Thorpe M, Bovill, Hatton.

Armthorpe Welfare: Cadman, Joynt, Wright, Charlotte H, Cooper, Grove, Gomes, Holden, Charlotte A, Rogers, Ellison. Subs: Robinson, Newsham, Bambrough, Flanagan, Dale.

Attendance: 83