Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
Dronfield Town made it back to back victories with a hard-fought win over bottom side Rainworth MW. The game had been in doubt right up until kick off with the Dronfield groundstaff putting in several hours trying to rid the pitch of surface water. Their efforts were rewarded as Town battled their way to a 2-0 half time advantage with Connor Chapell claiming two goals late in the opening 45 minutes. Rainworth, who had conceded 16 goals in their previous two games, showed a good degree of belligerence and pulled one back on the hour mark through Alfie Clarke. However, Dronfield hung on to claim all three points in the tricky conditions and move up to 11th in the UCL Division One table. A seven game March run now begins for Town, starting with a trip to West Bridgford on Tuesday evening.
After referee Lewis Saunders-Johnson declared the pitch playable, it was Dronfield who started brightly. Arran Bovill’s volley in the 2nd minute was deflected out of play by his own team-mate with the hosts looking to get on the board quickly.
Rainworth were not to be out-done however. The 9th minute saw striker Flavio Tomas unleash a low right-footed strike that brought a save out of Dronfield custodian Lewis Naylor.
Dronfield continued to press for the breakthrough. Chris Simpkins shot flew across the face of goal in the 18th minute and moments later, Matty Ord found himself in the clear but blazed his shot wide from 6 yards out with only Ryan Kinsey to beat.
The conditions were clearly tricky for both sides and after a scrappy passage of play, Ord managed to test Kinsey with a shot that was forced out for a corner. From the resulting set piece, Dan Shelbourne’s header hit the far post from close range.
As the half wore on. Tomas broke for Rainworth but his shot from the edge of the box went narrowly past Naylor’s right hand post.
The half ended well for Dronfield. As the hosts piled forward on the break, a cross from the right wing was met by the outstretched boot of Connor Chapell, who deflected it past Kinsey to put his side up by a goal to nil.
Then, on the stroke of half time, Chapell again intervened with a strike that hit the back of the net to see his side in at the break leading by 2-0.
Given Rainworth’s recent results, the expectation was that Dronfield would push on to a bigger margin of victory. However, they opened the second period by spending a lot of time in the Notts side’s half without translating their possession into clear cut chances.
Rainworth got one back just past the hour mark. Jack Clarke’s cross from the left flank was met by an unmarked Alfie Clarke at the back post, who planted his header into the goal to make it 2-1.
Spurred on by the goal, the lively Tomas got free shortly after but drilled his shot wide when he really should have hit the target.
Dronfield sought to open up their advantage. Good work by Arran Bovill saw the ball fall to former Rainworth striker Luke Walker but he blasted his shot over the crossbar.
Dronfield substitute Kenan McKenzie-Grey saw his turn and shot go just over the bar from 18 yards out on 71 minutes but Rainworth remained undeterred.
Alfie Clarke saw his shot fizz across goal with ten minutes to go and despite some tough slog and backs to the wall defending, it was hosts Dronfield who held on for the three points.
Town climb from 14th to 11th as a result of the win, which leads them into a seven game stretch in March. That run begins on Tuesday evening when Chris Millington’s side head to Nottingham to take on 21st ranked West Bridgford FC.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Bebbington, Simpkins, Watters, Shelbourne, Mawbey, Chapell, Bovill, Pashley, Walker, Ord. Subs: Appleyard, Butchart, McKenzie-Grey, Reardon, Gladwin.
Rainworth MW: Kinsey, Rood, Hunter, Hall, Thompson, Downs, Clarke J, Nazir, Tomas, Thornley, Clarke A. Subs: Onyeani, Henderson, Morley, Francis.
Attendance: 112
