Dronfield Town suffered yet another agonising single goal defeat, this time at the hands of visitors Nostell Miners Welfare. A slow start from the Derbyshire side saw them concede after only two minutes through Nostell’s Antony Leech and despite enjoying the bulk of the possession, they were unable to make the required breakthrough. Dronfield now find themselves in 16th position, 5 points above the relegation zone, and will look to pick themselves back up next week with a visit to 10th placed Selby Town.
The game began in the worst possible fashion for Town. The pace of the start was decidedly pedestrian and visitors Nostell took immediate advantage.
The second minute saw Nostell’s Antony Leech poke the ball goalwards with the Dronfield defence rather static. There was some uncertainty if the ball had actually crossed the line but the referee eventually decided that it had and the visitors were a goal to the good.
Town made an early tactical change, putting Arran Bovill at centre back to allow Charlie Stewart to play further forward and on 19 minutes, Dronfield finally got their first shot off – Callum Riley firing comfortably over the bar.
Even from this early stage, Nostell packed their defence and on 26 minutes, they scrambled the ball away from Sam Bebbington’s attempt to stab the ball home.
Nostell’s keeper Aiden Tyas came to their rescue on the half hour mark. Owen Lester won the ball and passed to Bebbington, who in turn fed an open Max Rhodes. Tyas flung himself at the ball to deny Town’s top scorer from 6 yards out.
Dronfield almost got on level terms three minutes before half time. A thunderous Charlie Stewart strike from 12 yards out thundered against Tyas’ near post as the Wakefield-based club breathed a sigh of relief.
Nostell suffered a blow two minutes after the restart when Tyas had to leave the field. He suffered a freak injury and had to be assisted from the field to be replaced by outfield substitute Jack Maeer.
Despite the setback, the visitors pressed on and on 53 minutes, Eddie Tynouse curled a left footed shot from the edge of the box that was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Lewis Naylor in the Dronfield goal.
Dronfield never really tested the rookie substitute keeper and on 64 minutes, Tom Gladwin skewed his shot wide at the back post from a Connor Chapell free kick.
It proved to be one of ‘those’ afternoons for Dronfield. The 73rd minute saw Sam Bebbington’s 18 yard effort narrowly clear the bar and three minutes later, his long throw was met on the volley by Gladwin but somehow the Nostell defence managed to block his attempt on the line.
Dronfield’s afternoon in attack was summed up in the 84th minute when Max Rhodes got the better of 2 defenders but his shot trickled agonisingly wide of the far post.
Nostell ran their bench to wind down the nine minutes of added time due to the injury to Tyas and were elated that their rearguard had earned them a very valuable three points.
Nostell now find themselves just three points away from escaping the drop zone with Dronfield in a group of eight teams separated by five points. Selby is the destination for Town next Saturday with the aim of getting back to winning ways.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Stewart, Lester, Gladwin, Wright, Chapell, Bovill, Rhodes, Bebbington, Knight. Subs: Wing, Siddons, Lindores, Flower, Noble.
Nostell MW: Tyas, Monkam Djeukam, Street, Tynouse, Leech, Booth, Twigger, Miller, Klimczak, Ceesay, Chippendale. Subs: Austerfield, Fenton, Tafireyi, Gascoigne, Maeer.
Attendance: 152
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