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David Bell

REPORT: Dronfield suffer another set-back with injury time loss against Athersley


Dronfield Town’s search for consistency hit another set-back with injury time defeat at the hands of Athersley Recreation. The Barnsley-based side took a lead on the half hour mark through prolific marksman Nathan Perks but Town gave themselves a lifeline with Sam Bebbington’s tidy finish on the stroke of half time. Dronfield showed greater application in the second half but a lapse in added time allowed Perks the time and space to send his side home with the three points. Town fall to seventeenth in the table as a result and their tough September schedule continues as they head to fifth-placed Brigg Town for their next encounter.


Neither side asserted their authority on the game in the early stages and it took until the 12th minute for the first opportunity of note.


Callum Mawbey put Max Rhodes clean through on goal but Dronfield’s leading scorer couldn’t find his way past Ellis Pickard in the Athersley net at close quarters.


Athersley suffered a blow on the 15 minute mark as central defender Dan Ravenscroft left the field with a nasty ankle injury, to be replaced by substitute Charlie Auty.


Athersley grew into the game for the rest of the half. Carter Tingle’s ball across the goalmouth was unable to be finished by the oncoming Enzo Guarini.


On 29 minutes, Town had skipper Lewis Naylor to thank that they didn’t go behind. Another failure to clear their lines saw the ball fall to Alfie Bakes, whose rising half volley was saved by the Dronfield stopper.


The relief only lasted a minute as the visitors took the lead. Defensive duties were lacking once again as experienced frontman Nathan Perks forced the ball home from close range to put Athersley up by 1-0.


The visitors had their tails up by this stage and it was Perks who found his low shot saved by Naylor after being set up by Guarini from the left flank in the 37th minute.


Dronfield gave themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half time. Tom Berry played a neat through-ball to Sam Bebbington, who turned his man and finished equally well into the bottom corner to send the sides in level at the break.


Town were wholly more competitive in the second half but suffered another nervy moment on 51 minutes. A scramble in the box saw Perks unable to finish on this occasion as Dronfield eventually managed to clear.


Solid chances were at a premium and Town endured another escape when Guarini couldn’t connect with a half volley when in space on the 65 minute mark.


Dronfield were granted a big opportunity on 72 minutes but were unable to capitalise. Athersley’s Luke Micklethwaite was sinbinned and Manager Paul Clarkson received a yellow in the aftermath.


However, the best the Derbyshire side could muster while their opponents were down to ten men was an impressive run by substitute Charlie Vernon that eventually came to nothing.


Disaster befell Dronfield one minute into added time. Town felt there had been a foul in the build-up but Perks was allowed time to turn and pick his spot as Athersley went up by 2-1 to claim all three points.


Dronfield now have 9 points from their 9 games played and find themselves in 17th in the NCEL Division One table. A tough September schedule sees them travel to Brigg Town, currently in 5th position, for their next fixture.


Dronfield Town: Naylor, Berry, Noble, Lester, Riley, Wright, Thorpe, Bovill, Rhodes, Mawbey, Bebbington. Subs: Appleyard, Knight, Lindores, Vernon, Gladwin.


Athersley Recreation: Pickard, Fields, Woodhouse, Byford, Ravenscroft, Bakes, Briscoe, Micklethwaite, Perks, Tingle, Guarini. Subs: Wright, Auty, Macdonald, Pursell, Moorhouse.


Attendance: 154

 

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