Dronfield Town couldn’t prevent hosts Wombwell Town going top of the Northern Counties East League Division One table as they slipped to a midweek 4-2 defeat. There were positive elements to Dronfield’s game, equalising through Max Rhodes and Sam Bebbington against the experienced Wellers. However, second half goals from Gavin Allott and Josh Nodder saw the South Yorkshire outfit claim the points and their sixth consecutive victory of the season. Dronfield take a break from a busy league schedule to welcome Premier Division Beverley Town to the HE Barnes Stadium in the FA Vase on Saturday.
Wombwell’s formidable front three of Nodder, Allott and Kershaw were prominent right from the off and their presence allowed Daniel Youel to escape at the far post in only the third minute to rattle the crossbar.
The pressure was relentless in the early stages when Rikki Paylor overhead kicked straight into the hands of Lewis Naylor from Owen Sykes long throw as their direct approach continued to pay dividends.
The first goal came on the 19 minute mark. Jordan Kershaw beat the Dronfield offside trap and despite Naylor getting a firm contact on the ball, it still ended up in the back of the net as Wombwell took a 1-0 lead.
Dronfield looked a much better side when they retained possession and just before the half hour mark, a nice move started by Max Rhodes ended with Owen Lester’s shot being tipped over the bar for a corner by Wombwell stopper Charlie Preston.
Preston could do nothing about Dronfield’s equaliser however. A ball in from the right was controlled with great skill and swiftly despatched into the back of the net in an excellent finish from six goal top scorer Max Rhodes.
Just as Dronfield seemed to be finding their feet, Wombwell restored their lead. A Dronfield corner broke down and as Wombwell went up the other end, the ball was teed-up for Gavin Allott to head home at 2-1.
Dronfield almost equalised on the stroke of half time when a Sam Bebbington dink put Rhodes in the clear but his close range effort was beaten away by Preston.
The second half began in the best possible way for the Derbyshire side. Just three minutes had elapsed when a Charlie Stewart free kick was stabbed home at the back post by Sam Bebbington to make it 2-2.
Again, Dronfield were unable to capitalise and allowed their hosts back into the game. The 66 minute mark saw prolific striker Allott break free to lob Lewis Naylor from the edge of the box with the score at 3-2.
And things unravelled further just two minutes later as Wombwell got their fourth. A mix up in defence saw Dronfield fail to clear. Former Retford United man Josh Nodder claimed the ball and stroked it home to give the Wellers a two goal advantage.
Dronfield rang the changes from the bench in the final fifteen minutes but were unable to break through the robust Wombwell side, who ascended to the top of the league table having claimed the three points.
Dronfield must seek the positives in that they troubled the new league leaders in spells and if they can sustain those sort of levels, they will be more than a match for most sides. One of the teams promoted to the Premier Division last season, Beverley Town, are Dronfield’s next opponents - this time in the FA Vase first qualifying round on Saturday at the HE Barnes Stadium.
Wombwell Town: Preston, Paling, Sykes, Patterson, Paylor, Dando, Wilson, Youel, Allott, Kershaw, Nodder. Subs: Boughton, Reece, Hodgson, McDermott, Agnew.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Noble, Lester, Gladwin, Bovill, Stewart, Knight, Rhodes, Mawbey, Bebbington. Subs: Lindores, Siddons, Thorpe, Rooke, Wright.
Attendance: 145
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