Dronfield Town racked up a fourth consecutive win in an entertaining encounter away at Wakefield-based Horbury Town. The West Yorkshire side were one of the teams to watch last season but went two goals down within twenty minutes thanks to strikes from Callum Mawbey and Harry Walker. The hosts got back on level terms either side of half time through Andy Horbury and unfortunate own goal from Callum Riley. However, another three points went back down the M1 to North Derbyshire as James Lindores wrapped up the win from close range just before the hour mark. The win sees Dronfield rise to thirteenth in the Northern Counties East League Division One table ahead of the visit of Selby Town to Stonelow on Saturday.
The game could not have begun any better for the men from S18. Callum Mawbey’s low free kick zipped across the sodden turf past Lightowler’s outstretched right hand and into the bottom corner to give Dronfield a 0-1 lead.
Horbury’s wide men were a threat all evening and Gibril Bojang proved that by poking the ball just past Naylor’s far post on 15 minutes and hitting the side netting 3 minutes later.
It was an up-tempo start to the game from Dronfield however and on 20 minutes they doubled their advantage. Harry Walker cut in from the left following a free kick and drilled another low strike past Lightowler to make it 0-2.
One of the few lapses Dronfield displayed in the first half resulted in their hosts pulling one back on 24 minutes. The ever-lively Bojang showed great poise on the right flank to set the ball up for an unmarked Andy Horbury to head home and make it 1-2.
A series of yellow cards was more of a reflection of the wet conditions than any real malice and the half concluded with Dronfield stopper Lewis Naylor saving low to his right after a good run from Kyeremeh and Town’s Max Rhodes firing just wide two minutes into added time.
The warning signs for Dronfield became very apparent at the start of the second period. Two minutes after the restart, Jak Kelly’s dangerous ball in from the right was unfortunately turned into his own goal by Callum Riley to draw Horbury level at 2-2.
At no point did Town’s effort and determination drop. Tom Staniland’s free kick from deep on the left saw Mawbey hitting the side netting after a penalty box scramble and on 59 minutes, the visitors took a decisive lead.
Sam Bebbington’s persistence down on the goal-line saw him win the ball and play it across the face of the area for James Lindores to bundle home from close range, putting Dronfield ahead by 2-3.
The remaining half hour saw the Derbyshire side at times lead a charmed life but ultimately claim the three points. An outstanding save from Lewis Naylor was a case in point. He appeared off balance but pulled off a world class stop from Kyeremeh, forcing the ball out of play when it looked goal-bound.
Despite such moments, Town were value for the win. Rhodes running caused problems all night for the Horbury rearguard and on another night, the two shots he saw blocked in the 80th minute and the shot he scuffed a minute from time after Owen Lester had teed him up on the penalty spot would have ended up in the back of the net.
The victory marked a fourth successive one for Chris Millington’s men, seeing Town climb to thirteenth in the table, just five points outside the playoff places.
The fledgling season continues on Saturday when fifteenth placed Selby Town are the visitors to the HE Barnes Stadium for a 3pm kick off.
Horbury Town: Lightowler, Swain, Playford, Brook, McGivern, Sidibe, Kyeremeh, Asamoah, Horbury, Kelly, Bojang. Subs: Wilson-Fleming, Penn, Schofield, Senior, Ward.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Rooke, Staniland, Lester, Riley, White, Walker, Mawbey, Rhodes, Bebbington, Lindores. Subs: Benson, Knight C, Townsend, Fereday Mark, Hill.
Attendance: 102
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