It was a vast improvement on their opening day aberration but sadly Dronfield Town remain pointless after two games of the new Northern Counties East League Division One season. A goal in either half gave visitors Retford FC the win but in truth, there was little to choose between the two sides other than the visitors ability to hit the target. Mercifully it is early days and there was much to commend about the Town performance.
Dronfield opened much the brighter – Captain Stu Hill’s header at the far post just going wide from Connor Chapell’s pinpoint corner after five minutes.
Town were energetic, enthusiastic and inventive but despite their industry, they failed to test veteran stopper Jon Kennedy in the Retford goal.
On 28 minutes the unthinkable happened. George White’s curling ball from the right into the box saw the Dronfield defence static, expecting an offside call. When the call didn’t come, Jack Walters was on hand to stab home efficiently and give the visitors a 0-1 lead.
It took 41 minutes for Dronfield to force Retford stopper Kennedy into action. Connor Chapell stung the keeper’s hands with a tasty drive from the edge of the box but it was enough for the Nottinghamshire side to take an advantage into the changing rooms at half time.
Again, Town opened the second half brightly. Ethan Flower’s cross into the box just two minutes after the restart saw Sam Bebbington make a tough header that just cleared the bar.
Alex Wonham had the ball in the Dronfield goal after 57 minutes but was comfortably offside and eight minutes later his Retford side doubled their advantage.
The inventive George White found the ball on the angle and rifled home past Nick Siddons in the Dronfield goal to make it 0-2.
Callum Mawbey failed to fully connect with a header on the 70 minute mark after a decent left wing cross, leaving Town boss Chris Millington to audibly declare that his team needed to do better in that area of the field and as a result, youngster Ross Dawson was introduced up front shortly after.
Dronfield looked to have a gilt-edged opportunity to get back into the game on the 82 minute mark. A Retford defender appeared to have punched clear a goal bound effort but the referee saw fit to only award a corner. From the set piece, Tom Fairweather headed on to the cross bar as the momentum dissipated.
Retford’s Hunter stabbed wide from Wonham’s cross when it looked easier to find the target on 83 minutes and try as Dronfield may, goals proved to be elusive.
The game banished thoughts of Dronfield’s uncharacteristic opening day mishap and while there was little to choose between the two sides, it was Retford’s finishing on the day that secured them the three points.
Dronfield negotiate a League Cup first round tie at Parkgate on Wednesday before heading off to Harrogate Railway Athletic next Saturday in search of their first league points.
Dronfield Town: Siddons, Bovill, Stewart, Mike Fereday, Fairweather, Hill, Chapell, Mawbey, Bebbington, Savage, Flower. Subs: Wright, Rooke, Knight, Dawson, Mark Fereday.
Retford FC: Kennedy, Loftus, Goddard, Edwards, White L, Robinson, Walters, White G, Wonham, Tomlinson, Johnson. Subs: Mundy, Severn, Dembele, Hunter, Housley.
Attendance: 109
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