Dronfield Town shook off their recent run of poor form with a battling point away at in-form Worsbrough Bridge Athletic. The Briggers had gone 13 games unbeaten prior to the Dronfield clash but found themselves behind early in the game through Matty Ord. Worsbrough levelled in controversial fashion on the half hour mark before taking a 3-1 lead midway through the second half. Their lead was short-lived as headers from Joe Pearson and Charlie Stewart saw a well-deserved point go back down the M1 to Derbyshire. The point did not affect Dronfield’s 19th position in the table but they now face huge games against the teams in and around them, starting with a visit to Appleby Frodingham for the first game of 2025.
Dronfield survived a couple of early forays forward from Worsbrough’s Keelan Grist to take the lead on 9 minutes. Matty Ord’s cross from the left flank evaded everyone including Briggers stopper Harry Ambler to nestle in the back of the net and put the visitors in front.
It was a hard-working and combative display from a fired-up Town side and a vital block from Arran Bovill on 27 minutes summed up their spirit on the day.
Worsbrough skipper Connor Glavin saw his volley go just wide of Nick Siddons right hand post on 28 minutes and the hosts eventually drew level on the half hour mark in somewhat controversial circumstances. A long throw from the right hand side finished up in the back of the Dronfield net, apparently without contact from any of the onfield players. The referee awarded a goal after deliberation, Lloyd Smith being credited with making it 1-1.
Smith and his strike partner Jake Squires both went into the book before the end of the half as the teams went in level at the break.
Dronfield started the second half slowly and went behind almost immediately. Worsbrough bundled their way through the Dronfield defence and Keelan Grist stabbed home at close quarters to make it 2-1.
While the hosts were clearly buoyed by their start, Dronfield showed a great deal of perseverance and on 61 minutes Max Rhodes found himself in the clear down the right channel but his low shot was saved by Ambler in the Worsbrough goal.
The Briggers got a third on 64 minutes. They broke down the left through Lloyd Smith and he fired home with ease to seemingly put his side in command.
Dronfield were undeterred and pulled one back almost immediately. Rhodes found himself forced out to the left but his accurate cross found Joe Pearson at the back post who headed home comfortably to make it 3-2.
Town got a richly deserved point on 76 minutes. Connor Chapell’s inswinging corner was glanced in by the head of Charlie Stewart to spark delight amongst his teammates with the score at 3-3.
Worsbrough shuffled their pack for the remaining 14 minutes but Dronfield held firm for the point that their commitment had entitled them to.
Worsbrough’s 14th unbeaten game on the trot saw them remain in 8th place in the NCEL Division One table with Dronfield remaining fixed in 19th. Dronfield’s first game of 2025 sees them head to bottom side Appleby Frodingham for a clash that already looks like a must-win for both teams.
Worsbrough Bridge: Ambler, Blake, Simpkins, Glavin, Smith D, Kemp, Grist, O’Connor, Smith L, Brown, Squires. Subs: Russell, Spooner, Appleyard, Gillott, Reed.
Dronfield Town: Siddons, Bebbington, Stewart, Lester, Bovill, Wright, Chapell, Lindores, Rhodes, Pearson, Ord. Subs: Marsh, Gladwin, Noble, Hatton.
Attendance: 153
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