Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
There was much to commend in Dronfield Town’s performance but they still fell to a 2-1 defeat against runaway league leaders Retford FC. The Notts side looked every inch the team that had only lost one game all season in a first half where they took a 2-0 lead through leading scorer Iren Wilson and Reece Clegg. The second forty five minutes saw Dronfield disrupt the Retford game plan effectively and end the game much the stronger. Arran Bovill’s 87th minute consolation possibly came too late with Dronfield on the up but it was three more points for Retford, who remain twelve clear at the top of the UCL Division One. Town drop one place to fifteenth ahead of a derby day visit to Swallownest FC next Saturday.
Retford demonstrated why they are top of the table in a very effective first half. A couple of early attacks however were followed by Dronfield’s Dan White turning their first shot over the bar.
The impressive Jesse Omoregbee whipped in a superb cross in the ninth minute that just evaded the outstretched boot of Reece Clegg as Retford turned up the intensity.
The visitors opening goal came on 17 minutes. Jacob Priestnall’s right wing delivery was turned home at close range by Retford’s leading scorer Iren Wilson to put them a goal to the good.
They didn’t have to wait long for a second. Twenty one minutes had gone when a defensive lapse on Dronfield’s part allowed Reece Clegg to steal the ball and place a simple finish past Lewis Naylor to make it 2-0.
Clegg almost got a second four minutes later when a speculative ball into the area saw him head against the crossbar, Lewis Naylor being able to reclaim the ball as Priestnall failed to convert the follow-up.
The pressure continued as Naylor made an outstanding save to his left hand side from Rory Coleman’s 20 yard left-footed free kick and late in the first half, Liam Bennett headed over the bar from a couple of yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Retford began the second half in much the same vein with a sliding Josh Scully turning his effort wide of the Dronfield goal.
Dronfield went to the bench, introducing Max Rhodes, Connor Chapell, Tom Gladwin and Callum Mawbey and began to halt the free flowing play of the visitors.
Chapell’s left footed strike from the edge of the area skidded just wide of Callum Fielding’s right hand post on 72 minutes with Lewis Naylor being called into action once more seven minutes after, beating Priestnall’s curling strike away to his right.
Town made their final substitution, giving a debut to Finley Hunt in place of Alex Appleyard, and gave themselves a lifeline two minutes after.
Luke Walker’s flick on put Arran Bovill in the clear. He rounded Fielding in trademark fashion and tapped the ball into the empty net to make it 2-1.
Despite late pressure, Dronfield couldn’t find the equaliser that their plucky second half display had earned with the Choughs racking up their 21st win of an already stellar season.
The Retford encounter was possibly something of a free hit for Town but their attentions now turn to their next game as a key focus. The short 10 mile journey to 10th placed Swallownest FC takes place next Saturday as the festive programme continues for Chris Millington and his men.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Reardon, Simpkins, Stewart, Shelbourne, White, Appleyard, Bovill, Pashley, Walker, Ord. Subs: Rhodes, Chapell, Hunt, Mawbey, Gladwin.
Retford FC: Fielding, Omoregbee, Coleman, Priestnall, Wankiewicz, Bennett, Sennett-Neilson, Patterson R, Clegg, Scully, Wilson. Subs: Dungworth, McKay, Boden, Patterson D, Hextall.
Attendance: 86
