Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
Despite a much-improved display, Dronfield Town exited the United Counties League Knockout Cup at the hands of Premier North side AFC Mansfield. Town held the Step 5 outfit goalless at half time and it took a 56th minute effort from Max Taylor followed by an 86th minute clincher from Will Heather to see the Notts side through to the next phase. Dronfield will now need to capture the essence of that performance as they return to league action on Saturday with the visit of 21st place Pinxton FC to the Stonelow Stadium.
An even opening spell played out with Dronfield’s Luke Walker catching the eye for some useful target-man work. Indeed, it was Walker who managed to dispossess the last man with 17 minutes gone but unfortunately his long distance attempt at beating the stranded keeper skimmed off the crossbar and out of play.
The hosts played their part in an entertaining first half too. On 19 minutes, Jake Batty’s shot was deflected off a Dronfield body and on to the post before going out for a corner.
AFC continued to press and on 25 minutes, a neat passing move down the left was laid off to Charlie Fox, who put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Dronfield’s positive attitude saw Said Benaissa cut in from the left wing on 34 minutes and he unleashed a curling effort that narrowly went past Josh Turton’s left hand post from the edge of the area.
A bizarre application of the five second rule affected Dronfield when keeper Lewis Naylor was counted out despite the ball being stranded some distance from his goal but fortunately nothing came of the resulting AFC Mansfield corner.
Late in the half, Benaissa’s cross-come-shot from the right skimmed off the crossbar but a goalless first half was a just reward for some enterprising play by the North Derbyshire side.
The early stages of the second half were also very much an even contest but it was AFC Mansfield who were to break the deadlock on 56 minutes. Zack Reynolds broke free down the right and squared the ball for centre forward Max Taylor, who was able to force the ball home from a couple of feet out to make it 1-0.
The goal certainly buoyed the home side and on 63 minutes, Naylor was forced to come from his goal to parry a shot that the hosts put wide from the follow-up.
With 20 minutes to go, Benaissa hooked over from 6 yards out as AFC went immediately up the other end and hit the crossbar through substitute Rhys Dolan.
As the game reached it’s latter stages, Dronfield visibly tired and this allowed AFC Mansfield to take control of the contest. On 76 minutes, Jacob Dainty’s goalbound header was blocked on the line by his own team-mate as Town breathed again.
The killer blow came 4 minutes from time. A deep ball in from the right hand side found Will Heather at the back post and he forced the ball in from close range to give AFC Mansfield safe passage into the next round.
There was much to commend in Dronfield’s play against higher-ranked opponents and it is this spirit and attitude that they need to take into their league campaign, starting with the visit of Pinxton FC to the Stonelow Stadium on Saturday.
AFC Mansfield: Turton, Coupe, Griffin, Mays, Blackbourne, Batty, Reynolds, Heather, Taylor, Sketchley, Fox. Subs: Shepherd, Mitchell, Dainty, Mays, Dolan.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Leader, Simpkins, Watters, Thompson, Mawbey, Chapell, Stewart, Rogers, Walker, Benaissa. Subs: Rhodes, Reardon, Foulstone.
Attendance: 64
