Dronfield Town came from behind to defeat Beverley Town by 3-1 at the HE Barnes Stadium on Saturday. Goals from Callum Mawbey, a Connor Chapell penalty and a first senior goal for James Lindores secured the points after Craig Muirhead had given the visitors the lead just past the half hour mark. Dronfield now climb to sixth place in the Northern Counties East League Division One table, one place shy of a playoff position, ahead of a visit to Wakefield AFC next weekend.
The opening half hour saw both sides battling a stiff breeze – two Dronfield efforts sailed out of the stadium at the cricket ground end while Beverley saw the ball race away from their attackers, carried along by the wind.
League newcomers Beverley started the day in fourteenth position but looked threatening through the pacy Ollie Baldwin and the impetus he gave the East Yorkshire side saw them take the lead in the 37th minute.
Somewhat out of the blue, a quality finish from Beverley’s joint top scorer Craig Muirhead from the edge of the area saw Lewis Naylor given no chance in the Dronfield net and put the visitors one goal to the good.
Dronfield looked a touch deflated by the strike and it was a welcome relief for the Derbyshire outfit when the half time whistle blew.
Dronfield rang the changes just after the restart and the moves proved to be an act of tactical excellence. Callum Mawbey, who had a tough battle against Beverley centre half James Piercy throughout the opening 45 minutes, dropped back into midfield and the introduction of James Lindores and Matt Crowe gave a new dynamic to the forward line.
The equaliser came on 64 minutes. A quality passing move saw Crowe deliver low into the box from the right as the onrushing Mawbey slotted home to put Dronfield back on level terms.
The goal buoyed the home side and it only took another nine minutes before Dronfield went in front.
Matty Ord showed tremendous skill to beat his man on the left and move into the area. His attempted cut back struck the hand of a Beverley defender and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Connor Chapell gave David Birch no chance in the Beverley goal as Dronfield took a 2-1 lead.
Beverley were somewhat crestfallen by this stage and the final hammer blow came on 81 minutes when Dronfield made it 3.
James Lindores, who had added an injection of pace to the right flank worked hard to win the ball and deliver a decent cross. His ball evaded everyone but when the delivery came back in from the left, he was there to stick the ball home and ensure there was no way back at 3-1.
The goal was Lindores first senior strike after many goals at under 21 level and the contribution of the young forward plus that of Crowe, who chased many a lost cause and put a useful Beverley back four under pressure, was key to getting Dronfield back into the game and indeed taking the points.
The win sees Dronfield climb to sixth in the table, equal on points with Retford FC, who are in the fifth and final playoff berth.
Dronfield head to Post Office Road, home of Featherstone Rovers rugby league club, next Saturday to take on tenants, eleventh placed Wakefield AFC.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Gladwin, Lester, Wright, Bovill, Chapell, Mike Fereday, Bebbington, Mawbey, Ord. Subs: Rooke, Flint, Crowe, Hill, Lindores.
Beverley Town: Birch, Matique, Larvin, Bennett, Knaggs, Piercy, Griffin, Adams, Moody, Baldwin, Muirhead. Subs: Calvert, Onyaka, Fenton, Gibson, Stafford.
Attendance: 132
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