Dronfield Town exited the JCP Construction League Cup at the third round stage with defeat at the hands of Northern Counties East League Premier Division side Bottesford Town. There was relatively little to choose between the 16th placed visitors and Dronfield, who reside in 9th in Division One; the Scunthorpe-based outfit claiming victory by the odd goal in three. Luke Ayris’ opening minute finish gave Bottesford the lead, equalised by Dronfield’s Callum Mawbey on the quarter of an hour mark. Another close-range finish by Dan Walker on 33 minutes sealed the win for Bottesford, who now move on to the quarter finals of the competition. Dronfield return their attentions to the league now and a trip to Harrogate Railway Athletic on Saturday.
Dronfield had been without a game for 14 days and it showed in the opening minute when Bottesford took the lead. Reece Moody crossed from the left hand side and Luke Ayris sidefooted home from a couple of yards out between a shellshocked Dronfield defence.
Town finally found their feet when an Owen Lester shot was charged down following a Callum Mawbey delivery from the left and by the 15 minute mark, they were level.
A regulation Charlie Stewart pinpoint inswinging corner was met by the head of Mawbey, who placed the ball into the upper reaches of the goal to make it 1-1.
Bottesford’s higher division pedigree told on several occasions when they looked lively on the break but they called upon their goalkeeper Jordan Quibell in the 27th minute. Charlie Stewart’s through ball to James Lindores saw the young front man do well to stay on his feet and force an excellent save out of the Bottesford stopper, the ball heading for the top corner of the net.
Moments later, the returning Mark Fereday saw his turn and shot claimed by Quibell but it was the visitors who took the lead on 33 minutes. Rinalds Jurkstis found himself free on the right and his ball inside was turned in at close range by Dan Walker to make it 1-2.
Dronfield had a gilt-edged chance to level on the stroke of half time – Mark Fereday blasting the ball over the bar with his right foot as the hosts went into the break a goal down.
Town introduced Kenan McKenzie-Grey for the second half in place of Fereday and he saw his shot charged down just after the restart from the free kick he had originally won.
McKenzie-Grey appeared to draw a lot of contact on the hour mark in the area but as the ball went out of play, the referee saw fit to award a corner.
Bottesford continued to look lively pushing forward. A free kick in a dangerous position from Jack Griffin just went past the upright at pace as they pushed for a third goal.
To Dronfield’s credit, they continued to seek an equaliser and on 73 minutes, a move started by Arran Bovill was finished by a karate kick from the same player, only for the ball to sail over the bar.
Town continued to push for a leveller. The 80th minute saw Lindores header claimed by Quibell after a flick on from Bebbington’s long throw and two minutes from time, Bovill’s left footed hook went narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Bottesford’s Charlie Dunkerley should have put the tie beyond all doubt a minute before the end, when he headed over at the back post completely unchallenged and four minutes into added time, Jake Hatton blasted over the bar in Dronfield’s last chance to send the game to spot kicks.
So Dronfield’s first game of 2024 ended in Cup exit but attentions now must focus on the league. Town head to tenth placed Harrogate Railway Athletic, level on points with the North Yorkshire side but having played three games more. Kick off is 3pm on Saturday.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Bebbington, Riley, Lester, Hatton, Bovill, Stewart, Knight, Mark Fereday, Lindores, Mawbey. Subs: McKenzie-Grey, Siddons, Townsend, Thorpe, Mike Fereday.
Bottesford Town: Quibell, Jurkstis, Chaffer, Dunkerley, Fawcett, Griffin, Ayris, Rogerson, Walker, Moody, Gregory. Subs: Anderson, Fraiwald, Auty, Pulford, Broadley.
Attendance: 69
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