Dronfield Town exited the NCEL League Cup at the first time of asking but not before a close-fought encounter with near-neighbours Shirebrook Town went to a penalty shootout. Both sides fielded strong teams and could not be separated after Fabian Johnson’s 37th minute opener was cancelled out by Dronfield’s Danny Wood just two minutes later. Shirebrook went on to triumph by 4-1 in the lottery of the shootout to secure their passage to the next round. Dronfield will look to bounce back and continue their impressive start to the league campaign with a visit to one of last season’s playoff teams, Harrogate Railway Athletic, on Saturday.
Both clubs showed a good deal of respect for the competition by fielding very strong sides and a competitive encounter ensued. The excellent HE Barnes Stadium playing surface allowed some excellent flowing football to be played and on 11 minutes, a long cross field ball by Shirebrook found Kane Gregory, whose shot on the angle was pushed out of play by Dronfield keeper Lewis Naylor for a corner.
Dronfield’s best chance of the opening exchanges came on 25 minutes. A pinpoint delivery by Charlie Stewart from a left hand side free kick found Sam Bebbington but his free header was wide of the mark.
Shirebrook suffered the blow of losing their experienced skipper Ashley Grayson to injury on 29 minutes, to be replaced by Sam Allcock.
A good spell for Dronfield saw Danny Wood head over under pressure after a useful right wing cross from Sam Terry on 35 minutes but it was Shirebrook who took the lead just two minutes after.
A defensive lapse saw the ball fall to Fabian Johnson as Dronfield failed to clear and he made no mistake with his shot just inside the area to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Their lead was short lived. Charlie Stewart, who was a threat with his set piece deliveries all evening, sent in another testing inswinging corner that was met by Danny Wood at the far post to level up matters at 1-1 with 39 minutes gone.
Shirebrook’s Josh Devereux scuffed his shot when unmarked at the far post in added time but the interval arrived with the teams still deadlocked.
Dronfield opened the second half brightly – Sam Bebbington just failing to connect adequately on the half volley after another useful cross by Terry.
Both sides made a raft of substitutions in a bid to get the tie settled in regulation time and it almost paid off for Dronfield when one of those substitutes, Joe Pearson, headed against the bar amid complaints for raised Shirebrook feet on 73 minutes.
Six minutes from the end, Shirebrook’s Nathan Jessop clattered the near post with the ball bouncing gratefully into the arms of Naylor and one minute into added time, Callum Mawbey had the ball in the net for Dronfield, only to be adjudged as offside.
So with the competition rules sending the game straight into a penalty shootout, a hard-fought 90 minutes was settled in ‘lottery’ fashion.
Jessop and Johnson sent Shirebrook into a 2-0 lead with Dunn saving from Dronfield’s Charlie Stewart.
Joe Pearson pulled one back for the hosts before Ramsey made it 3-1 to Shirebrook. Owen Lester’s kick was palmed away low to Dunn’s right and it was left to Sam Allcock to secure the visitors passage to the next round.
Dronfield’s focus now returns to the bread and butter of the league and a visit to Harrogate Railway Athletic. The Rail were a playoff team in 2021-22 but currently sit in 7th place, three points behind Chris Millington’s 4th place Dronfield side. Kick off is 3pm at Station View on Saturday.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Stewart, Mike Fereday, Hill, Gladwin, Flower, Rooke, Wood, Bebbington, Terry. Subs: Lester, Pearson, Ord, Knight, Mawbey.
Shirebrook Town: Dunn, Gregory, Ordidge K, Ramsey, Grayson, Ordidge R, Johnson, Sykes Tobin, Finneran, Devereux J, Jessop. Subs: Scothern, Parfitt, Birchall, Devereux S, Allcock.
Attendance: 129
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