Dronfield Town’s 2023-24 season ended in defeat at the hands of near-neighbours Staveley Miners Welfare. A goal for the visitors in the opening thirty seconds put Town on the back foot and Staveley claimed their second three minutes into the second half. The move of the game saw Dronfield pull one back through Arran Bovill but it was Staveley who replied almost immediately to claim a deserved 3-1 win on the night. Three losses in the last three games haven’t really summed up an excellent season for the side from the HE Barnes Stadium, who can take much pride from the way they have competed with big budget teams throughout and will look to do so again in 2024-25.
The game got off to the worst possible start for Dronfield. Experienced Staveley winger James Gregory’s burst down the left flank ended with Lewis Naylor saving with his legs but the ball only went as far Jack Deakin, who made no mistake from close range to put the visitors a goal to the good inside 30 seconds.
Town finally got a hold on the game in the 21st minute. A trademark Sam Bebbington long throw was back-headed goalwards by Callum Mawbey, forcing Zac Walker in the Staveley goal to tip the ball out athletically.
Staveley continued to take the game to their hosts and on 24 minutes, Joel Ward’s break from a long ball forward forced Town skipper Lewis Naylor to come from his goal and save at the wide man’s feet.
A biblical downpour hindered both sides but just shy of the half hour mark, Arran Bovill turned his man this way and that before shooting narrowly past Walker’s near post.
Staveley threatened again before the half time whistle. A last ditch tackle on Deakin by Cameron Knight came to Dronfield’s rescue just as the striker was primed to shoot.
The visitors doubled their lead three minutes after the restart. Staveley captain Will Wraith curled the ball into the net from the angle at the edge of the box to make it 2-0.
The concerted pressure from Staveley saw Naylor saving at the feet of Mackenzie Ross shortly after and the visitors headed over from the corner that followed.
The game took an interesting turn on 69 minutes. The move of the game saw Dronfield finally getting their passing game together before a diving header from Supporters Player of the Year Arran Bovill hit the back of the net to make it 2-1.
Hopes of a comeback were stymied almost immediately. Staveley went straight up the other end and claimed their third of the contest through Wraith, who recorded his second of the game.
Naylor was called upon to produce another outstanding save from Deakin, who beat the offside trap to go clean through but with time ticking away, it was a deserved win for the side from Inkersall Road.
Dronfield fall to tenth in the table as a result and may yet fall further with Louth, Retford and Harrogate Railway still having games to play. An inauspicious end to the campaign hasn’t helped their cause but shouldn’t detract from an excellent season where they have lived and competed with sides with significantly higher resources. If they can continue their progression in 2024-25, the HE Barnes Stadium will once again be a place to watch some attractive and thrilling football.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Bebbington, Knight, Mawbey, Thorpe, Bovill, Rhodes, Lindores, McKenzie-Grey. Subs: Benson, Gladwin, Fereday, Lester, Siddons.
Staveley MW: Walker, Flint, Claxton, Whittaker, Grierson, Tansley, Ward, Ross, Deakin, Wraith, Gregory. Subs: Pickering, Abudu, Reece, Bingham, Peckett.
Attendance: 148