Dronfield Town suffered another setback in going down to a single goal defeat at home to Louth Town. An Adam Millson goal on the stroke of half time put the Lincolnshire outfit into the lead despite their hosts enjoying the bulk of the possession. Dronfield continued to press again in a dominant second half but were unable to break the Louth rearguard that saw them climb above the Derbyshire side into 16th place. Town will attempt to re-group and put their season back on track with a trip to Maltby Main for their next fixture.
Dronfield took the game to Louth from the off, buoyed by their impressive win over Ilkley the previous week. The game was largely played in the visitors half but it took 12 minutes before Max Rhodes’ shot was charged down, bringing about an unanswered plea for hand ball in the area.
Louth had their moments however. An Alfie Usher free kick out on the left was headed against the outside of the post by the oncoming Alex Aldrich, giving Dronfield a big let-off.
On 16 minutes, Matty Ord’s sideways ball from the right flank found Sam Bebbington, whose curling strike went just wide of Declyn Dennis’ far post.
Town had skipper Lewis Naylor to thank for an impressive double save on 19 minutes. He firstly turned a Jordan Smith shot away to his left and then made a quality stop from Harris Dunn with his legs to keep Dronfield in the encounter.
Dunn put the ball in the net on 28 minutes but saw his effort ruled out for a clear offside but Louth did take the lead on the stroke of half time.
Naylor saved from Bailey Wright initially but couldn’t do anything about Adam Millson’s follow-up effort; the midfielder stroking home from 8 yards out to give Louth a 1-0 lead.
Louth, in 19th place before the start of play, chose to employ defensive tactics in the second 45 minutes in order to secure a positive result.
The 65th minute saw Dronfield’s best opportunity to get back into the game. Sam Bebbington finally slipped the attentions of the Louth defence to lob the ball over keeper Dennis. Agonisingly, his excellent attempt skimmed the top of the crossbar and went out of play.
Matty Ord was the next to show for Dronfield. A flowing passing move ended with a vicious strike from Ord being tipped over the bar by the busy Dennis.
Ord tested Dennis again by cutting in from the left but the Lincolnshire side’s stopper turned his low shot round the post for a corner.
Connor Chapell’s rising hit went narrowly over the bar on 77 minutes and the Dronfield playmaker saw Dennis save from his 20 yard free kick five minutes after.
Louth employed every tactic they could to run down the clock and were successful in doing so as Max Rhodes couldn’t quite turn the ball home from Ord’s right wing cross two minutes into added time.
Dronfield’s bid to eliminate the inconsistency in their results continues on the road at seventh-placed Maltby Main for their next fixture. Clearly they have the tools in their armoury but need to translate that into wins to start climbing the Northern Counties East League Division One table.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Stewart, Lester, Gladwin, Wright, Chapell, Knight, Rhodes, Bebbington, Ord. Subs: Siddons, Noble, Thorpe M, Rooke, Bovill.
Louth Town: Dennis, Southwood, Dunn, Perry, Carter, Aldrich, Wright, Millson, Smith, Nelson, Usher. Subs: Coulam P, Evison, Coulam B, Lait.
Attendance: 131
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