Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Football Correspondent David Bell
It was an FA Vase exit at the second qualifying round stage but despite the scoreline, Dronfield Town’s performance was much improved. Former EFL professional and Rossington player-manager Greg Young opened the scoring on 25 minutes in a close first half that saw Dronfield’s Charlie Stewart sinbinned in the latter stages. Main skipper Mitch Langton made it two on the hour and two goals in the last eleven minutes through Paul Sherburn and Khalid Suleiman gave the hosts a comprehensive 4-0 scoreline. Before the late capitulation, Town hit the crossbar through Callum Mawbey, summing up a spirited display that will hopefully bode well for their return to league action at Gedling MW next Saturday.
Dronfield started spritely. The experienced Callum Mawbey shot from distance in the opening minute, almost catching Rossington keeper Jordan Greaves off his line but the shot narrowly failed to hit the target.
The conditions were far from ideal with driving rain and in the tenth minute, Lewis Naylor fumbled the ball but neither Mitch Langton or Ross Hannah were able to apply the finishing touch.
Mawbey hooked another useful shot over his head on 17 minutes, again just going wide of the target but it was home side Rossington who took the lead on 25 minutes.
A series of corners saw the hosts applying pressure, the final one of which saw player-manager Greg Young forcing the ball home from close range to make it 1-0.
Far from rolling over, Dronfield continued to press and a very useful cross from the right flank by Sam Bebbington just evaded to outstretched boot on the oncoming Arran Bovill.
Bovill returned the favour for Mawbey two minutes later, standing the ball up for the striker, whose firm header went narrowly wide of the mark.
The half ended in controversy as Bovill appeared to cleanly win a tackle but as the foul was awarded against him, Charlie Stewart was sinbinned for his reaction towards the decision.
Town negotiated the spell with ten men but when he returned, it was Rossington who doubled their lead. Hannah deftly played in Paul Sherburn on 58 minutes but his shot fizzed across the goal mouth.
Main did get a second on the hour mark however. Skipper Mitch Langton broke through the Dronfield defence before taking the ball round Naylor and placing it into the empty goal with the score at 2-0.
Undeterred, Dronfield tried to find a way back into the game. On 67 minutes, Callum Mawbey unleashed a fearsome left footed strike from 20 yards out that thundered against the crossbar and away to safety.
Town tired in the latter stages against their Step 5 opponents, who turned in two late goals to wrap up a comprehensive win. On 79 minutes, Sherburn’s speculative shot took a deflection past a stranded Lewis Naylor to give Rosso a 3-0 advantage.
A weary Dronfield conceded a fourth six minutes from time. Substitute Sam Limber’s right wing cross gave fellow sub Khalid Suleiman an easy tap in and confirmed passage to the first round proper.
Dronfield can hold their heads high in that they matched their higher ranked opponents for long spells and must take a similar standard of performance into their United Counties League games, commencing next Saturday with another away contest at Nottingham-based Gedling MW.
Rossington Main: Greaves, Murillo, Sutton, Langton, Hough, Young, King, Prior, Nowak, Hannah, Sherburn. Subs: Andrew, Suleiman, Bowes, Noble, Limber.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Bebbington, Stewart, Reardon, Shelbourne, Gladwin, Turner, Bovill, Chapell, Mawbey, Appleyard. Subs: Benaissa, Pashley, Thorpe M, Hatton, White.
Attendance: 64
