It was a frustrating afternoon for Dronfield Town as they created innumerable chances on the road at Armthorpe Welfare but ended up falling victim to an added time winner from their hosts.
Town took the lead through Callum Mawbey early in the second half but had their hearts broken by Joshua Bowkett’s 91st minute strike.
The first half was a fairly forgettable affair but Dronfield had the better of the chances on offer. Town had a series of long range efforts that were mostly food and drink for Welfare stopper Alfie Stevens-Neale but the game came alive in the 28th minute when Mark Fereday stabbed the ball over Stevens-Neale only to see it hit the crossbar and go out of play.
Stevens-Neale came to Armthorpe’s rescue in the 40th minute when Danny Wood cut inside from the right flank after Rawson’s long ball – his shot being stopped by the feet of the Welfare keeper.
The second half was a much more open affair with Dronfield taking the game to their hosts. The tactic paid dividends almost immediately as two minutes after the restart, Danny Wood’s through ball found Callum Mawbey in acres of space to finish with aplomb past Stevens-Neale.
Dronfield continued to press. Fereday stabbed his shot just wide after a terrific run from Chappell in the 57th minute and just four minutes later, Wood’s right wing cross saw Mawbey just unable to force the ball home at the back post in a challenge with Armthorpe skipper Tyler Walker.
The chances continued to flow for Town. In the 70th minute, another Wood cross found Fereday in space but Stevens-Neale saved well with his feet once more.
Armthorpe got back on level terms in the 72nd minute. Luke Williams cross from the left gave Adam Baskerville the easiest of tasks, planting his header firmly into the open goal.
Dronfield’s day was summed up in the 83rd minute when, following a free kick, Ethan Flower put his shot wide with the target at his mercy.
Heartbreak came for Town one minute into added time when a long ball found Walker on the right hand side. His cross fell to Welfare substitute Joshua Bowkett, whose shot dinked in off the inside of the post to confirm all three points were staying in Doncaster.
A big week now awaits Dronfield. They welcome second-placed Campion on Tuesday evening to the HE Barnes Stadium, followed by the visit of local rivals Hallam next Saturday as their bid to get back into the top half of the division continues.
Armthorpe Welfare: Stevens-Neale, Walker, Simpkins, Linley, Moseley, Lucas, Poskitt, Aspinall, Baskerville, Williams, O’Neill.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Rawson, Stewart, Chappell, Pugh, Hill, Wood, Flower, Fereday, Mawbey, Ord.
Attendance: 88
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