Dronfield Town’s wretched run continued as they went down by 3-1 at sixth placed Glasshoughton Welfare.
The home side took their time to get going but a confident second half display saw them claim all three points at the TJ’s Travel Arena. Dronfield are now looking at the wrong end of the Northern Counties East League Division One table and need to arrest a sequence that sees them winless since 3rd December.
A reshuffle saw Dronfield start Connor Chappell up front and this masterstroke paid immediate dividends. Danny Wood squared for Chappell inside the first minute and he made no mistake from twelve yards out.
A first half of commitment and endeavour continued to play out for Town. A neat interchange between Bebbington and Chappell on eleven minutes eventually found Mawbey but he blazed over from the edge of the area.
Danny Wood appeared to be upended on 27 minutes in the Glasshoughton penalty area. The claim was waived away and as the ball went up the other end, the prolific Nathan Perks hit the outside of the Dronfield near post.
Glasshoughton ended the first half in dangerous fashion. On 34 minutes, Perks right wing cross was met by Ashley Bell, whose header forced Lewis Naylor into a decent save.
Three minutes from the interval, a speculative ball into the area from the left hand side found Daniel Youel at the back post and he made sure that Glasshoughton were brought back on level terms.
Glasshoughton carried the momentum from the end of the first half into the beginning of the second. They took the lead in the 54th minute when Fidel Mhlolo’s through ball found the livewire Perks, who made no mistake for his 27th goal of the season.
Dronfield continued to press. Mawbey’s ball down the left hand side found Chappell, who dinked his shot just wide.
Town withdrew Rich Mintoft for Mark Fereday, moving to a 4-3-3 formation but it was Glasshoughton who increased their advantage. On 74 minutes, Andrew Horbury’s right wing cross was forced home from close range by Welfare sub Ryan Hallsworth to make it 3-1.
Mark Fereday saw his dipping effort pushed round the post by Lewis French as time expired and Glasshoughton even had the luxury of Nelson heading wide with the goal at his mercy after Naylor had raced out of his area in added time.
A huge game awaits Dronfield now next Saturday as they welcome 19th placed Harrogate Railway Athletic to the HE Barnes Stadium with a win being vital to edge out of the dropzone.
Glasshoughton Welfare: French, Lalousis, Cunliffe, Binsley, Youel, Mhlolo, Horbury, Nelson, Ferguson, Perks, Bell.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Wright, Stewart, Rawson, Mintoft, Hill, Bebbington, Pugh, Wood, Mawbey, Chappell.
Attendance: 76