Dronfield Town took the scalp of Premier Division Maltby Main to progress to the third round of the Northern Counties East League Cup. Despite going in at half time a goal down, Town replied with strikes from Max Rhodes (2), James Lindores and Owen Lester to move to the next stage of the competition. A repeat of the excellent second half display will be needed on Saturday when Dronfield return to league action with a visit to eighth placed Retford United.
Both sides battled a stiff breeze and a bobbly pitch in a relatively even first half that came alight just before the interval.
The 8 minute mark saw Dronfield almost take the lead. Connor Chapell’s left footed free kick rattled off the angle of post and crossbar as the Division One side laid down an early marker.
Chances were at a premium as neither side really got to grips with the wind and it took until the 27 minute mark for the next one of note. Former Dronfield man Matty Ord’s free kick found Ben Harriott in the box and his header sailed narrowly wide.
The last six minutes of the half saw a raft of chances. Maltby stopper Levi Owen saved at close range from Max Rhodes, followed by fellow striker James Lindores having his shot cleared off the line.
A minute from the break, Lewis Naylor prevented prolific hitman Nathan Perks from finding the net at point blank range but it was Maltby who were to take the lead right on the stroke of half time.
Sam Bebbington tried to head clear with the Town defence under pressure but unfortunately the ball skewed into the net to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.
The second half opened somewhat alarmingly for Dronfield when Maltby’s Ahren Rogers crashed the ball against the bar with only two minutes played.
That, however, was about as good as it got for the Premier Division outfit as Town went on to dominate the rest of the game.
The Derbyshire side got back on level terms on 49 minutes. Good work from Callum Mawbey found Max Rhodes, whose shot was adjudged to have crossed the line by the Assistant Referee, squaring matters up at 1-1.
It only took a further two minutes for Dronfield to take the lead. Max Rhodes superb curling free kick from 20 yards out was followed up by James Lindores, who headed home to make it 1-2.
Town’s dominance continued and they claimed their third in the 61st minute. An individual turn and strike from Rhodes from the edge of the box nestled in the bottom corner of the net for the striker’s fifteenth goal of the campaign and Dronfield’s third on the night.
Fifteen minutes of madness ended when Town sealed the tie with their fourth goal of a fabulous second half. Maltby failed to clear Owen Lester’s dink off the line as the midfielder secured passage to the next round with the score at 1-4.
Both sides rang the changes from the bench, Dronfield managing their workload with solid spells from Under 21’s Tom Berry and Matt Thorpe.
Another of those subs, Nick Benson almost got his side a fifth before the end of the game. Rhodes played in the front man but once again, Maltby cleared off the line as their goal continued to lead a charmed life.
Dronfield will attempt to reach the quarter final stage in their next tie but until then, attentions turn back to the league. Town head to the team just above them in eighth place, Retford United, for a 3pm kick off on Saturday.
Maltby Main: Owen, Warne, Rogers, Lister, Harriott, Makwedza, Ord, Nyarko, Perks, Currie, Bradford. Subs: Foulds, Aliya, Thomas, Sawyer, Green.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Mawbey, Knight, Hatton, Bovill, Chapell, Lester, Rhodes, Lindores, Bebbington. Subs: Stewart, Berry, Benson, Thorpe.
Attendance: 88
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