Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
There was exit from the Derbyshire Cup for Dronfield Town at the second round stage against Pinxton FC but again it was a performance not without its merits. A 67th minute Harvey Ford strike was the only difference between the sides, who both played some excellent football despite the monsoon conditions at the Roofsol Arena. Dronfield managed to dominate for long periods and that is something they will need to carry into their next fixture, an important league clash against second bottom Holwell Sports.
With torrential rain lashing down at the Roofsol Welfare Arena, it was the hosts who were first to a notable chance. The pacy Bernard Nsiah managed to turn his man and force Town skipper Lewis Naylor into a save with his legs.
Dronfield proceeded to take the game to Pinxton however and the twelfth minute mark saw Alex Appleyard unleash a great half volley from distance that had home keeper Warren Squires palming the ball up in the air.
Town had rung the changes to good effect and one of the players introduced, Max Hatton, had a skiddy 18 yard left footed effort go narrowly wide of Squires’ left hand post.
Dronfield found particular success down the left flank and after a series of testing crosses, it was Dan Shelbourne whose header went just over the crossbar.
The visitors search for a goal continued on 25 minutes when Hatton fed Luke Walker, whose low strike went the wrong side of the far post.
The end to end nature of the game kept spectators interested on a dreadful night and as the half came to a close, Pinxton’s Cam Brown got the better of Charlie Stewart at left back, forcing Lewis Naylor tip his cross-come-shot out of play for a corner.
The game was no less entertaining after the break. The early stages of the half saw Pinxton’s Jay Cooper deliver a low cross from the left that zipped across the face of goal without any of his team-mates able to get the final touch.
As the contest approached the hour mark, Max Rhodes produced an excellent turn and shot from 20 yards out that just went past the right hand post but it was Pinxton who were to take the lead some eight minutes later.
A free kick from deep on the left hand side was delivered into the box and found Pinxton captain Harvey Ford, who ghosted in to drive the ball home and give his side a 1-0 advantage.
Dronfield did their utmost to get back on level terms. A pacy run down the right wing from Max Rhodes ended in a testing cross that was almost forced home at the back post by October Player of the Month, Arthur Pashley.
On 74 minutes, another neat passing move concluded with Appleyard forcing another low stop out of Squires as Dronfield began to ring the changes.
Jack Bancroft, Mark Fereday and debutant Kellie Marah replaced Arthur Pashley, Liam Vardy and Isaac Reardon as Town looked to send the game to spotkicks.
Another Alex Appleyard half volley from fully 30 yards out four minutes from time came close to hitting the target but was to prove to be Dronfield’s final effort of the night as they bowed out of knockout football by the narrowest of margins.
The effort, tempo and passing was good on the night from Dronfield and they will need similar levels of commitment on Saturday when 22nd placed Holwell Sports visit the Stonelow Stadium. Holwell were 3-1 victors over Town back in August so the game holds particular significance for Chris Millington’s men.
Pinxton FC: Squires, Green, Collings, Ford, Mogford, Hamilton, Brown, Richards, Nsiah, Moore, Cooper. Subs: Rowbotham, Northmore, Askwith, Tindall, Hardwick.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Vardy, Stewart, Reardon, Shelbourne, Mawbey, Appleyard, Hatton, Rhodes, Walker, Pashley. Subs: Bancroft, Thorpe, Marah, Gladwin, Fereday.
Attendance: 64
