REPORT: Much-changed Dronfield exit the Cup at the first time of asking

A much-changed Dronfield Town side went out of the Northern Counties East League Cup at the first time of asking with a 4-2 defeat away at Wakefield AFC. Town battled back from going two down inside 11 minutes through James Lindores and a Sam Bebbington penalty. However, Wakefield progressed into the next round through second half strikes from Seb Losa and Stephen Smith at their new home of the Millennium Stadium in Featherstone. Dronfield return to the HE Barnes Stadium on Saturday to refocus on the league with the visit of Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

The game got off to the worst possible start for Town when influential midfielder Jaydan Sandhu curled a shot into the top corner of Lewis Naylor’s goal with his right foot from out wide on the left to give Wakefield a third minute lead.

In a triple-whammy of events, Dronfield striker Mark Fereday was replaced by Oliver Townsend after only 9 minutes and two minutes later, Town went two behind.

Sandhu’s free kick virtually on the goal line was turned home at close range by Losa to make it 2-0.

Town could have capitulated but to their credit began to take the game to their hosts. A pair of good moves forward saw the Dronfield forward line narrowly unable to get on the end of useful crosses as they upped the intensity.

Their workrate paid dividends on 38 minutes when they clawed a goal back. A long free kick forward saw the ball fumbled by Hagie Damba in the Wakefield goal and Dronfield striker James Lindores was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net from close range.

A spirited half hour of play saw Town pull level by half time. Cal Riley was pushed in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Sam Bebbington rifled the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-2.

The half time period saw a delay in kick off due to an inoperative corner floodlight but with Wakefield stopper Damba donning a high-vis vest, the game was allowed to continue. It was Wakefield who came out of the delay better however as they took a 3-2 lead.

Lewis Naylor pulled off a fine stop from the host’s Jamie Allsop but the ball only rebounded as far as Losa, who made no mistake with the follow-up for his second of the game and Wakefield’s third.

Wakefield’s tempo increased considerably and on 55 minutes, substitute Kiyani Clayton rattled the foot of the post in a bid for a fourth.

With fireworks in close proximity to the ground, the hosts capped an interesting evening by sealing the win in the 70th minute. Town’s defence was a little static as Stephen Smith ghosted in and finished from just inside the box to make it 4-2.

Dronfield’s player path continued to pay dividends when U21’s captain James Thorpe saw his shot saved by Damba in the dying moments but unfortunately it wasn’t to be for Town on the night as Wakefield progressed to the next round.

Attentions now switch back to the league and the visit of Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, currently with a single point from their two completed games so far, to the HE Barnes Stadium on Saturday.

Wakefield AFC: Damba, Allsop, Charlton, Sandhu, Durkin, Townrow, Losa, James, Gelder, McKenzie-Grey, Rubie. Subs: Stephen Smith, Clayton, John, Haigh, Scott Smith.

Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Noble, Stewart, Mawbey, Gladwin, Rooke, Knight, Fereday, Lindores, Bebbington. Subs: Thorpe, Vernon, Rhodes, Townsend.

Attendance 179