Dronfield Town pushed leaders and title-favourites Shirebrook Town all the way but sadly lost out by the odd goal in three. Recent signing Danny South gave ‘Brook a seventh minute lead that was equalised by a super strike from Dronfield’s Callum Mawbey on the stroke of half time. Both sides contributed to a quality afternoon of football but it was Shirebrook substitute Brad Kerr who wrapped up the points twelve minutes from time to see his team go three points clear with a game in hand at the top of the table. Dronfield can take great heart from their performance and it will stand them in good stead for the next in a challenging run of games that sees them travel to fifth-placed Parkgate on Saturday.
A bumper Non-League Day crowd were treated to a high standard of football from the off and it only took Dronfield three minutes to get into their stride. A delightful move started by Kenan McKenzie-Grey found Callum Mawbey, who in turn fed Max Rhodes whose curling shot went wide of Owen Evans’ far post.
Despite their good start, Dronfield suffered a blow on seven minutes. Igor Mlynarski’s low right wing cross went through the arms of young keeper Rhys Hudson, deputising for regular stopper Lewis Naylor, as far as Shirebrook’s Danny South, who bundled the ball home from close range.
Even though they were a goal behind, Dronfield continued to press with good effect. Mike Fereday appeared to have been impeded in the penalty box on nineteen minutes but the match referee waived away Town’s claims for a spot kick.
Callum Mawbey headed over from Connor Chapell’s corner on twenty four minutes and Shirebrook gave a reminder of their obvious threat when thirty eight goal top scorer Kieren Watson turned and shot from the edge of the area – Hudson making an effective save on this occasion.
Just as it looked like the visitors were going to take a lead into the interval, up stepped Dronfield skipper for the day Callum Mawbey. He collected the ball twenty five yards from goal and fired a terrific strike into Evans’ bottom left hand corner to make it 1-1.
The second half began with both sides still going toe-to-toe. Early efforts saw Shirebrook’s Anthony Dwyer win the ball but blast his shot wide of the mark and just past the hour, McKenzie-Grey put Rhodes in the clear but Dronfield’s top scorer was curtailed by a last-ditch Shirebrook tackle.
A double substitution by Shirebrook had a big impact on the outcome of the game. Substitute Rio Allan’s left wing delivery was headed home by fellow sub Brad Kerr only to see the assistant referee rule the goal out for offside.
Kerr did get the decisive goal one minute later however. He outpaced the Dronfield defence on seventy eight minutes before slotting past Hudson to make it 2-1 to the table toppers.
Dronfield shuffled the pack in the dying stages and almost got a leveller four minutes into added time. A Sam Bebbington long throw from the right was met by substitute James Lindores, whose spectacular overhead kick was acrobatically tipped out for a corner by Shirebrook stopper Owen Evans.
Despite the defeat, Dronfield can take great pride in their never-say-die display. Playoff-chasing Parkgate are Town’s next opponents and with similar application, there is no reason why Dronfield cannot secure a top ten finish and their highest points total since joining the league in 2013-14.
Dronfield Town: Hudson, Fereday, Stewart, Lester, Bovill, Wright, Chapell, Mawbey, Rhodes, Bebbington, McKenzie-Grey. Subs: Gladwin, Thorpe M, Benson, Lindores, Siddons.
Shirebrook Town: Evans, Mlynarski, Murr, Patterson, South, McGowan, Waldram, Dwyer, Watson, Matthews, Carty. Subs: Kimberley, Clayton, Kerr, Allan, Simmonite.
Attendance: 215
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