Dronfield Town lost out by the odd goal in three, going down away at Armthorpe Welfare on Boxing Day. A wonder goal from the hosts’ Ryan Ellison and a Charlie Clegg strike gave Armthorpe a 2-0 half time lead. A better second half from Dronfield saw them pull one back through Max Rhodes but their youthful bank holiday line-up couldn’t quite force a result on this occasion. Town return to more familiar Saturday league action next up when Horbury Town are the visitors to the HE Barnes Stadium.
The first half was a fairly dour spectacle only enlivened by a remarkable first attempt on goal.
On 12 minutes, Armthorpe’s Ryan Ellison unleashed a left footed strike from just inside the Dronfield half that dipped wickedly as it clipped the underside of the bar and went into the back of the net.
It took fully 14 further minutes before another goalbound effort; the sizeable presence of Evan Fortune-West seeing his shot deflected out for a corner as he attempted to double the Welfare’s lead.
Town’s first real effort of note came just before the half hour mark. The ball fell to Connor Chapell following a Charlie Stewart free kick but his shot from the edge of the box was comfortably gathered by Billy Hicks in the Armthorpe goal.
The hosts did go two up however on 33 minutes. Charlie Clegg was allowed to turn just inside the penalty area and placed his low drive into the bottom corner past the dive of Lewis Naylor to make it 2-0.
Dronfield missed a gilt-edged chance on 36 minutes when Callum Mawbey sliced his shot at the back post and on 44 minutes, Max Rhodes finished from close range following another Stewart delivery, only for the linesman to rule it out for offside.
The second half provided more incident for the watching crowd. Town came out with greater purpose and a Matt Thorpe cross from the right wing in the opening minute just evaded the boot of the sliding James Lindores.
Fortune-West once again proved himself a handful shortly after when his scissors kick brought out a good save from Naylor.
At the opposite end, Armthorpe’s Hicks made a fine stop from a firm Jake Hatton header but he couldn’t prevent Dronfield pulling one back just after.
Time seemed to stand still as Max Rhodes had the presence of mind to poke the ball home from close range with the Armthorpe defence looking for an offside decision.
Town pressed for the equaliser. Good build-up in the 61st minute saw Rhodes pick up the ball 12 yards from goal but his shot was wide of the mark.
Three minutes later, Callum Mawbey’s rising left footed strike narrowly cleared the crossbar as Dronfield found greater success going to the experienced midfielder.
Dronfield introduced youngsters Oli Townsend, Cam Knight and James Thorpe in a bid for fresh legs but it was Armthorpe, who had the final opportunity of the game – Naylor making another fine save from a timely volley.
The hosts negotiated the seven minutes of added time, running the clock down in the corners to record a 2-1 victory.
Dronfield will hopefully have a greater pool of resources to select from on Saturday when one of the sides around them in the table, Horbury Town, are the visitors to the HE Barnes Stadium (3pm ko).
Armthorpe Welfare: Hicks, Curtis, Ellison, Baxendale, McCormack, Flanagan, Holden, Brook, Clegg, Varley, Fortune-West. Subs: Hatton, Tomes, Yarrow, Webb, Bambrough.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Riley, Stewart, Lester, Hatton, Mawbey, Chapell, Thorpe M, Rhodes, Lindores, McKenzie-Grey. Subs: Townsend, Thorpe J, Knight, Siddons.
Attendance: 164
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