Dronfield Town took a valuable point on the road away at Harrogate Railway Athletic in an entertaining encounter. The visitors from Derbyshire had the better of the first half, creating several chances on a heavy pitch but only going in at the break a goal to the good thanks to Callum Mawbey. Town still had their moments in the second period but it was hosts Harrogate who had the momentum near the end of the game, equalising five minutes from time through Sam Clothier. Dronfield had Jake Hatton sent off for his second yellow card in the dying embers but in all, a point apiece was probably a fair outcome. Dronfield now need to gear themselves up for the A61 derby when Clay Cross Town come to the HE Barnes Stadium next Saturday.
Town began the day in ninth in the Northern Counties East League Division One table, level on points with Harrogate who were in tenth. The visitors made a useful start however – Connor Chapell seeing his shot gathered by Harrogate keeper Jonathan Dash after only 2 minutes.
Dronfield adapted better to the heavy surface and on 10 minutes, a flowing move involving Owen Lester, Callum Mawbey and eventually James Lindores saw the forward’s shot go wide of the mark.
Town came close to breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute. Charlie Stewart’s fierce left footed free kick from 20 yards out rattled off the crossbar as Harrogate continued to live a charmed life.
The goal did eventually come on the quarter of an hour mark. A delightful long ball from the left flank delivered by Chapell found the head of centre forward for the day Callum Mawbey, who made no mistake in giving Dronfield the lead.
The Rail finally found their feet midway through the half. Town skipper Lewis Naylor was forced to save from the host’s Luca Bolino after he cut inside on 18 minutes and then on 27 minutes, Jake Hatton intervened to turn behind a dangerous Hakkinen Anani cross.
Town still had further opportunities to double their lead before half time. Mawbey was unable to direct his header goalwards after a reasonable Kenan McKenzie-Grey cross and on 40 minutes, McKenzie-Grey spurned another solid chance, Lindores turning provider from the right on that occasion.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half again saw Dronfield with chances to put the game to bed. A strong McKenzie-Grey hit from the edge of the area was beaten away to his left by Dash and on the hour mark, a delightful crossfield passing move resulted in a dangerous Stewart inswinging corner that Harrogate managed to scramble clear.
The home side made a raft of substitutions that gave them an injection of pace and energy that would ultimately see them secure a point. Naylor was forced to save from the pacy Bolino, who let the ball run away when clean through just past the hour mark.
The Town goal led a charmed life 3 minutes after. Three blocked shots in the area saw the ball finally fall to Prince Attakorah, who blasted narrowly wide.
Dronfield still had their moments. A Stewart free kick on 73 minutes saw Mawbey head straight at Dash and 2 minutes after, substitute and leading scorer Max Rhodes found himself in the clear, only to see the home side recover and break down the attack.
The Harrogate pressure saw them get back on level terms five minutes from time. A long ball from the left wasn’t cut out by Dronfield and Rail sub Sam Clothier finished from close range to make it 1-1.
Both sides could have taken all three points at the death. A rising Owen Lester strike went just wide four minutes from the end with Lewis Naylor pulling off an incredible point-blank stop from Alex Clark at the other end.
Six minutes of added time brought further drama. Another quality footballing move saw Rhodes feed Owen Lester, who placed his shot wide of the mark when handily placed.
Jake Hatton received his marching orders for a second yellow card but Dronfield survived a final Harrogate set piece to collect a well-deserved share of the spoils.
Town remain in ninth place as a result and welcome near-neighbours Clay Cross Town to S18 next Saturday.
Harrogate Railway Athletic: Dash, Attakorah, Darvill, Barker, Mutch, Lockwood, Navier, Anani, Bolino, Robertson, Hickey. Subs: Clothier, Clark, Anku, Bandeira, Pye.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Bebbington, Lester, Hatton, Bovill, Chapell, Stewart, Mawbey, Lindores, McKenzie-Grey. Subs: Knight, Rhodes, Parfitt, Benson, Townsend.
Attendance: 135
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