There were plenty of goals once again as Dronfield Town welcomed Retford FC to the HE Barnes Stadium. The two sides fought out a 4-4 draw back in August but it was the Nottinghamshire who ran out 2-4 winners this time around. Dronfield’s attentions now turn to a big away day at leaders Skegness Town next Saturday.
It was a much improved first half for Dronfield, who suffered a 4-1 defeat at Worsbrough the week previous. Indeed, it was the home side who took the lead in just the seventh minute.
Mark Fereday’s curling right wing cross was met by Callum Mawbey’s head; the midfielder steering his header accurately into the top corner past the outstretched arm of Retford keeper Jon Kennedy.
Town, marshalled by youngster Ethan Flower in central midfield, looked at ease in possession but seventh placed Retford slowly began to ease themselves into the encounter.
Street’s shot from the edge of the area just rose over the bar in the 32nd minute and a goalmouth scramble four minutes later saw the same player blaze over when he should have hit the target. However, the first forty five minutes signalled a good deal of promise for Dronfield in general.
Retford came out for the second half at tempo. It took just two minutes for them to get back on level terms. Dronfield gave away possession in the middle of the park, which led to Adam Scott racing away down the left hand side and finishing comfortably past Lewis Naylor to equalise.
It took a further seven minutes for them to take the lead. Liam Bennett’s shot from the edge of the area was beaten away by Dronfield skipper Naylor, but only as far as Haydn Goddard, who made no mistake from close range.
The Retford juggernaut rolled on in the 64th minute as two goals became three. Josh Street was allowed time to turn and fire home relatively unchallenged from twelve yards out to make it 1-3.
Town lost influential defender Richard Mintoft to injury in the 68th minute and things went from bad to worse as Retford claimed a fourth ten minutes later. Billy Wright’s attempted clearance richocheted off Street into the net as the game was killed as a contest.
Dronfield got a consolation two minutes into added time. Charlie Stewart’s left footed free kick thundered against the bar and was scrambled into the net by sprawling substitute Herve Sezerano.
Town will now hope to get back to full strength for their trip to deepest, darkest Lincolnshire and a huge game against the table toppers, who had their lead cut to just two points with defeat at Rossington on Saturday.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Wright, Stewart, Flower, Mintoft, Pugh, Chappell, Bebbington, Fereday, Mawbey, Wood.
Retford FC: Kennedy, Stutt, Goddard, Severn, Bennett, Burgin, Scott, Gilmore, Evans-Booth, Street, Larcombe-Loftus.
Attendance: 86
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