Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell

It was everything that you’d expect a local derby to be but it was Dronfield Town who ran out 4-2 winners against near-neighbours Swallownest FC in the Easter Monday sunshine. Town struck first through full debutant Kellie Marah on 20 minutes but it was Swallownest who had the better of the first half, going in at half time 2-1 to the good thanks to two Callum Brooks strikes. Dronfield levelled after 73 minutes through an Arran Bovill header and in a grandstand finish, took all three points through Charlie Stewart and Max Rhodes in added time. Town stay in eighth place with two games left to play and if they should take two points from those remaining fixtures then they will guarantee a top ten finish in their first season in the United Counties League. The first of those two games sees Chris Millington’s men head to Pinxton FC next Saturday.

Dronfield, who had come through a tough 90 minutes against playoff challengers Coalville Town on the Saturday, looked a little bit leggy for their next game just 48 hours later. Luke Walker miskicked at the top of the area 3 minutes into the encounter and Swallownest had a good opportunity 3 minutes after – Harrison Case putting a free kick from 25 yards well over the crossbar.

Dronfield took the lead on 20 minutes. A delightful move saw Walker feed Arran Bovill, who in turn laid the ball off to Kellie Marah. The young American striker cut inside and unleashed a clean strike that left Harley Middleton in the Swallownest goal with no chance.

The visitors weren’t fazed by going behind and continued to take the game to their hosts. On 22 minutes, Alex Wilkinson appeared to be offside but in the absence of a flag, Lewis Naylor in the Town goal was forced to tip his header over the bar.

From the resulting corner, Dronfield failed to clear and Callum Brooks fired home from the edge of the box to make it 1-1.

Swallownest deservedly took the lead on the half hour mark. Inadequate defending again by Dronfield saw Naylor save Brooks’ first attempt but the Swallownest number ten made no mistake with the follow-up to make it 2-1 in the visitors favour.

Swall carried on where they left off just after half time. Two minutes had gone by when Harrison Struggles left footed effort curled wide of Naylor’s far post.

From the hour mark, Dronfield began to get a foothold back in the game. After Callum Mawbey’s header had narrowly cleared the bar from Connor Chapell’s inswinging corner, Town introduced Max Rhodes, Alex Appleyard and Charlie Stewart from the bench and they were to have a big impact on the contest.

The equaliser came on 73 minutes. Man of the match Kellie Marah produced a super run and step over down the right flank before delivering a pinpoint cross for the head of Arran Bovill, who finished for his 13th goal of the season.

The momentum was with Dronfield by this stage. On 78 minutes, Swallownest hacked off the line with Charlie Stewart just unable to apply the final touch and then on 83 minutes, Swall kept out another Stewart shot from close range, this time on his favourite left boot.

Stewart did give Dronfield the lead two minutes into added time however. Tom Gladwin headed Connor Chapell’s set piece back across the face of goal and despite falling backwards, Stewart headed home to put Town in front by 3-2.

They weren’t finished there. After five minutes stoppage time, Arran Bovill squared from the left hand side to an unmarked Max Rhodes, who finished calmly from the vicinity of the penalty spot to wrap up the three points at 4-2.

Town remain in eighth place, being somewhat adrift of the top seven but with plenty to play for in their last two fixtures. Two points will guarantee a top ten finish in their first season in the United Counties League; a remarkable achievement considering that they were languishing in the bottom three in their previous league (Northern Counties East) at this time last year. Dronfield visit Pinxton FC next Saturday and wrap up their programme with a home fixture against Pinchbeck United the weekend after.

Dronfield Town: Naylor, Reardon, Simpkins, Butchart, Gladwin, Mawbey, Chapell, Bovill, Marah, Walker, Ord. Subs: Rhodes, Pashley, Appleyard, Stewart, Benaissa.

Swallownest FC: Middleton, Short, Case, Struggles, Skelton, Nettleship, Lakin, Muirhead, Wilkinson, Brooks, Butcher-Simpson. Subs: Moore, Brown, Reid, Jones.

Attendance: 147

Image: Michael South Photography