An eleven minute spell after half time proved to be Dronfield Town’s undoing as they went down by 4-1 away at Retford United. The host’s new signing Josh Nodder claimed a hat-trick with strike partner Jake Champion getting the fourth as Callum Mawbey scored a consolation for Town seven minutes from time. Dronfield drop to tenth in the Northern Counties East League Division One table but still remain only five points off the playoff places despite the result. The tough games come thick and fast however as the Derbyshire side travel up to third placed Wombwell Town on Tuesday night.
Retford announced the signings of Josh Nodder from Parkgate and Sam Finlaw from Shirebrook on Friday evening and both made their starting line-up. The lift to their team was visible in the opening twenty minutes where they maintained lots of possession but Dronfield weren’t without their moments as well.
Useful crosses from Charlie Stewart and Owen Lester inside the first 11 minutes both came to nothing as Retford began to impose themselves from the 24 minute mark.
A deep ball from the right found Max Pemberton at the back post but his connection went wide of Lewis Naylor’s right hand post.
Naylor saved with his legs from Alister Haydock a minute later and a Finlaw strike on 28 minutes after a good build-up narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Just past the half hour mark, Callum Mawbey’s header from Connor Chapell’s corner was unfortunately blocked by Max Rhodes when it appeared goalbound and on 36 minutes, Rhodes’ cross from the right found Mawbey, whose header was crucially saved by Crosby in the Retford goal.
Town’s failure to capitalise was punished on 37 minutes when Retford took the lead. The Dronfield defence failed to clear Jake Champion’s pull back and Nodder made no mistake from 12 yards out to make it 1-0.
The start to the second half would be crucial but it was Retford who seized the initiative in a decisive spell that would win them the game. After two early chances, it was Nodder who doubled the host’s advantage. He found himself with enough time and space to fire home on the half volley in the 55th minute to make it two.
Nine minutes after it became 3-0. The Town defence looked to the assistant referee for an offside decision that never came as Jake Champion nipped in and placed the ball past Naylor to all but seal the win.
The game was well and truly wrapped up on 66 minutes. A cross to the back post was met by the head of Nodder, who hit the back of the net for a debut hat-trick and a scoreline of 4-0.
Despite the inevitability of the result, Dronfield to their credit continued to maintain their effort levels. A reshuffle saw Callum Mawbey sent to partner Max Rhodes up front and on 83 minutes he made a burst through the middle and finished calmly past Crosby to pull back a consolation for Town.
The defeat was Dronfield’s first in six games over 90 minutes and the challenging fixtures continue to come thick and fast for the men from Stonelow. Tuesday evening sees them make the journey up the M1 to third-placed Wombwell Town – kick off time 7.45pm.
Retford United: Crosby, Fieldsend, Pemberton, Finlaw, Haydock, Dungworth, Owen, Kane, Champion, West, Nodder. Subs: Dawes, Priestnall, Macaskill, Eckhardt, Morris.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Gladwin, Stewart, Hatton, Bovill, Chapell, Lester, Rhodes, Mawbey, Lindores. Subs: Thorpe M, Siddons, Thorpe J, Knight.
Attendance: 157
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