Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
It may have been Dronfield Town’s longest awayday of the season but the journey was certainly worth it as the North Derbyshire side took home a 4-0 victory from Sleaford Town. First half goals from Connor Chapell and Max Rhodes (penalty) were followed in an equally impactful second half by Charlie Stewart and Arran Bovill adding their names to the scoresheet. The win sees Town reach double figures for the season and heralds a climb to tenth in the UCL Division One table ahead of their next fixture which sees them host Clipstone FC at the Stonelow Stadium.
Dronfield started the game on the front foot. Only three minutes had passed when Matty Ord won a free kick in a dangerous area that unfortunately came to nothing.
It only took 14 minutes for Town to get on the scoresheet however. Max Rhodes persistence saw him square the ball into the box from the right where it was met by Connor Chapell, who slotted home to make it 1-0.
Ord was a constant thorn in Sleaford’s side and just two minutes later, his cross from the left ended with Rhodes putting the ball past the post when it looked like he was odds-on to score.
The second goal came on 27 minutes. Ord turned his man and was felled in the box. Max Rhodes blasted a well struck penalty past Wilson in the Sleaford goal as the score became 2-0.
The half hour mark saw Arran Bovill almost make it three. He broke free and lifted his shot over Wilson but saw the ball bounce agonisingly wide of the post.
Sleaford too had their moments in an entertaining encounter in heavy conditions. Jonathan Timmins 20 yard free kick brought out a quality save from Dronfield custodian Lewis Naylor and with ten minutes to the break, Clayton Wilkinson saw his close range effort deflected over the bar after Lewis Greenfield’s useful right wing delivery.
A double substitution at the start of the second half saw the hosts start brightly. Naylor was called into action once again, this time making an excellent stop to his left from Sleaford’s Joe Wilkinson.
Sleaford’s promising start fizzled out however as Dronfield claimed their third of the game. Man of the Match Matty Ord’s deep free kick from the left found Charlie Stewart, who timed his run to perfection to plant a firm header into the net and virtually secure the points for Town.
Dronfield’s confidence was visible as a flowing move saw Rhodes feed Ord, who in turn found Bovill, whose shot was scrambled past the post by a stretched Sleaford defence.
Leading scorer Bovill wrapped up the three points on 68 minutes. He weaved his way in from the left flank before drilling the ball into the net to wrap up the game at 4-0.
Dronfield took the opportunity to run their bench for the final twenty minutes and there was a further moment of drama three minutes into added time. Substitute Tom Gladwin was adjudged to have clattered Lewis Smith as the referee pointed to the spot. Smith dusted himself off to take the penalty kick but brought out a save from Naylor as the final whistle blew.
The three points were very welcome given the number of teams bunching up in the middle of the table of which Sleaford were one. Dronfield now face another of those sides, 14th placed Clipstone FC, at the Stonelow Stadium next Saturday.
Sleaford Town: Wilson, Twigg, Stewart-Caws, Wilkinson J, Timmins, Coleman, Zalewski, Wilkinson C, Gray, Graves, Greenfield. Subs: Nicholson, Mayo, Whalen, Olivier-Townrow, Smith.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Reardon, Simpkins, Stewart, Shelbourne, Mawbey, Chapell, Bovill, Rhodes, Walker, Ord. Subs: Bebbington, Watters, Pashley, White, Gladwin.
Attendance: 120
