Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
Dronfield Town’s unbeaten run extended to four games with a 1-1 draw against Gedling MW on national Non-League Day. Blustery conditions meant that attractive football was difficult for both sides but it was Town who took a first half lead through Arran Bovill on 40 minutes. Gedling had the advantage of playing with the wind in the second half and managed the equalising goal on 77 minutes through substitute Edward Clarke. The point keeps Dronfield in tenth place in the United Counties League Division One table with five games remaining in the season. Town bring their March programme to a close with a visit to thirteenth-placed Southwell City on Tuesday evening.
The difficulties of a swirling wind became apparent almost immediately. Just four minutes had passed when Gedling goalkeeper Callum Marks bravely saved with his feet from Charlie Stewart’s 20 yard free kick.
Marks claimed in off-balance fashion from another Stewart set piece on ten minutes as the wind continued to play its part.
Gedling, 22nd in the league at the start of play, looked impressive going forward and their front two caused Dronfield several problems. Mykah Skervin’s run and shot was saved by Lewis Naylor on twelve minutes as the visitors grew into the game.
The eighteen minute mark saw Gedling player-manager Ruben Wiggins-Thomas put in a testing cross from the right flank, which was met by the head of the oncoming Oliver Clarke – Naylor once again coming to Dronfield’s rescue with the save.
Town finished the half strongly. Firstly, a 25 yard half volley from Chris Simpkins went just over Marks’ crossbar before the half hour mark.
On thirty five minutes, Callum Mawbey came forward from centre half and his 30 yard left footed effort hit the post and bounced agonisingly across the face of goal without actually crossing the line.
Dronfield did take the lead five minutes after however. One of the few quality footballing moves of the afternoon saw a ball into the box teed up by Luke Walker for Arran Bovill, who confidently struck it home to make it 1-0.
Just as Dronfield had the benefit of the wind in the first half, Gedling capitalised in the second. Two minutes after the restart, Reuben Clowes fierce 20 yard strike was punched away to his left hand side by Lewis Naylor.
Leading scorer Bovill came up with a mesmeric run on fifty one minutes that left the Gedling defence for dead but the final finish from Walker went well over the crossbar.
The game degenerated into something of a stalemate as both sides tried to get to grips with conditions but it was the visitors who emerged out of the malaise with greater purpose.
The equaliser came on seventy seven minutes. Orlando McDonald-Robinson’s cross from the right flank was headed home by Gedling substitute Edward Clarke at close range to make it 1-1.
Clarke once again used his presence on eighty four minutes, almost getting his outstretched boot to another testing ball from the right but as the game played out, it was probably a fair reflection on the contest that the points were shared.
Town remain in tenth as a result, two points ahead of Sandiacre Town and two behind Clifton All Whites and Pinxton in ninth and eighth respectively. March comes to a close with a Tuesday evening trip to Southwell City and then four games follow in April in Dronfield’s quest for a top ten finish.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Reardon, Simpkins, Stewart, Gladwin, Mawbey, Butchart, Bovill, Pashley, Walker, Ord. Subs: Chapell, Rhodes, Marah, Benaissa, Watters.
Gedling MW: Marks, McDonald-Robinson, Ceesay, McCaughey F, Carnelley, McCaughey R, Clarke O, Thornton, Wiggins-Thomas, Skervin, Clowes. Subs: Woodward, Smith, Clarke E, Loscalzo, McCaughey H
Attendance: 104
