Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
A very positive performance saw Dronfield Town come from behind to defeat Cotgrave FC by 2-1 and record Manager Lewis Naylor’s first victory at the helm of the club. Town enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes but somehow found themselves behind to a Jack Vipond goal on the stroke of half time. An entertaining second half saw Dronfield eventually level on 77 minutes through leading scorer Max Rhodes and claim a vital win three minutes from time with an excellent finish from Callum Martin. The North Derbyshire side’s league position is unaffected by the result but gives them confidence moving into their next fixture; a lengthy away trip to seventh-placed Sleaford Town.
The game started in lively fashion with Dronfield on the front foot, something they have managed in their recent games but without positive results. Thirteen minutes had passed before skipper Callum Mawbey, making his 400th appearance in a Dronfield shirt, headed narrowly over the bar at the back post from Jack Worrall’s corner delivery.
Town really should have broken the deadlock on 22 minutes. Good work from Arran Bovill saw him lay off with the outside of his boot to Jack Worrall, who brought out a low stop from Cotgrave keeper Liam Mitchell.
Dronfield didn’t have it all their own way. On 26 minutes, Town custodian Tom Hill brought out an outstanding stop from Jack Vipond with Cotgrave skipper Ryan Smith unable to convert the follow up.
Despite the domination of play, Dronfield were unable to convert any of the succession of corners that they won but rightly felt aggrieved just after the half hour mark. An extremely poor challenge by Cotgrave’s Ben Rafferty on Sam Bebbington only received a yellow card when many present felt it warranted a red.
The reprieve seemed to be a boost for the visitors who broke through Prestyn Moore on 39 minutes but Vipond’s sliding effort went wide at the back stick.
Cotgrave did seize the initiative right on the stroke of half time however. Tom Hill was again called into action with another super point blank stop from Ryan Smith but Vipond was on hand to put the ball into the net at the second attempt after Hill almost performed miracles for a subsequent save.
Heads didn’t drop for the hosts and they began the second half in positive fashion. A curling effort from Callum Martin forced Mitchell into a reasonably comfortable save as a back-and-forth spell entertained the Stonelow crowd.
Just before the hour mark, Hill made yet another quality save with his legs from Andrew Tsolakis’ low drive and four minutes after, Smith got free in the left channel but put his shot wide of Hill’s left hand post.
The leveller came on 77 minutes. A delightful through ball from Man of the Match Owen Lester found Dronfield’s leading scorer Max Rhodes, who turned and finished in the box for his tenth of the campaign to make it 1-1.
Town had a let off one minute later. Prestyn Moore’s left footed shot thundered off the post as Dronfield breathed a sigh of relief but it was the home side who went on to finish stronger.
Three minutes from time, Callum Martin opportunistically turned at the top of the penalty box and fired in a quality left footed strike that crept past the fingertips of Mitchell and into the bottom corner to secure a vital first win for Lewis Naylor and his side.
Despite the much-needed victory, Town remain in 19th position in the United Counties League Division One table but finally have some just rewards for the standard of their performance. Next up for the men from S18 is a long road trip to seventh-ranked Sleaford Town in a 2pm kick off due to floodlight issues at the Lincolnshire side’s ground.
Dronfield Town: Hill, Reardon, Ireland, Wilkinson, Morgan, Mawbey, Lester, Bovill, Rhodes, Bebbington, Worrall. Subs: Leader, Naylor, Gyasi, Walker, Martin.
Cotgrave FC: Mitchell, Cooke, Rafferty, Hogg, Carnelley, Robertson, Tsolakis, Upton, Smith, Vipond, Moore. Subs: Head, Price, Lake, Meakin, Almond.
Attendance: 54
