Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
Dronfield Town suffered a comprehensive 4-0 home defeat at the hands of unbeaten league leaders Clipstone FC but it was not a performance without its merits. The Mansfield-based side went 3-0 up in the first half through Oliver Monington, Eden Homer and leading scorer Drew Allwood. Town restricted the visitors to just a single Luke Bacon effort in the second half with their energy and commitment impressing against a side that already look destined for a higher division next season. Such a performance will need to be carried into the next fixture which sees fifteenth-placed Dronfield match up with sixteenth-placed Selston on Saturday in their next United Counties League fixture.
It was a fast-paced start by both sides and as early as the eighth minute, Dronfield’s Lewis Naylor was called upon to palm away a glancing header from Clipstone striker Drew Allwood.
Ominously, unbeaten Clipstone got their first goal on 15 minutes. The ball bounced agonisingly over Lewis Naylor from a close range Oliver Monington effort, almost in slow motion as the visitors gained a 1-0 lead.
That became two 8 minutes later. A corner on the far side to the back post found an unmarked Eden Homer, who didn’t miss with his head to double the Nottinghamshire side’s advantage.
Dronfield suffered the blow of Matty Ord hobbling off the field on 34 minutes to be replaced by Max Rhodes and despite the change, continued to play at a decent tempo.
However, Clipstone all but killed the encounter with a third goal on 36 minutes. The ball dropped nicely for Drew Allwood in the Dronfield penalty area and he made no mistake with a free shot for his 14th goal of the brief campaign so far.
Perhaps understandably given the scoreline, it was a relatively low key start to the second forty five minutes. Clipstone had a couple of half chances and Dronfield continued to battle manfully despite chasing the game.
Town’s effort was exemplified on the hour mark when a useful Callum Mawbey flick on came to nothing from a Sam Bebbington long throw but it was Clipstone who continued to show why they are favourites for the title.
On 70 minutes, a mazy run from left back by Jack Reeves ended with a sprawling Sam Bebbington cutting out his dangerous cross. From the resulting set-piece, Clipstone had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.
They did get their fourth goal on 73 minutes however. A sortie forward by right back Luke Bacon saw him cut through the Dronfield defence and take the ball round Lewis Naylor, tapping into the empty net to wrap up the points at 4-0.
Injury woes continue to plague Dronfield as Jack Worrall was forced to leave the game after a challenge that left him on the ground but went unpunished by the match official.
Clearly Clipstone’s recruitment is paying dividends as they now record nine wins from nine at the top of the UCL Division One table. Dronfield still sit in the lower reaches in 15th but will take heart from a positive display, despite the scoreline, that will see them in good stead for the crucial game to come on Saturday at Selston.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Reardon, Stewart, Morgan, Ireland, Mawbey, Chapell, Worrall, Bebbington, Walker, Ord. Subs: Rhodes, Martin, Appleyard, Benaissa, Watters.
Clipstone FC: Torr, Bacon, Reeves, Homer, Shaw, Buck, Rigley, Goddard, Allwood, Joyce, Monington. Subs: Bramall, Lamb, Pearce, Poplar, Widdowson.
Attendance: 108
