Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell

Dronfield Town put one hand on an eighth place finish in the United Counties League Division One table with a creditable 2-2 draw at ninth-placed Pinxton FC. The contest followed a typical ‘game of two halves’ pattern with the hosts taking a 2-0 half time lead through Harvey Ford and Bernard Nsiah. Town rallied in the second 45 minutes as firstly Sam Bebbington and then Arthur Pashley ensured that the North Derbyshire side claimed a share of the spoils. Chris Millington’s side have one game left to play next Saturday at home to Pinchbeck United and can only be caught by Clifton All Whites but it would take an eleven goal swing for the Nottingham-based side to usurp the men from S18.

Conditions were bright but breezy as the game got underway and it took until the 8th minute for Tom Gladwin to head back Connor Chapell’s corner, only for Charlie Stewart to hook over the bar from 9 yards out.

That proved to be Gladwin’s last action of the game as a knee injury suffered in a collision with Bernard Nsiah forced him from the field with only 12 minutes elapsed. Town introduced Ryan Watters to the contest and moved Arran Bovill to centre half but subsequently lost their leading scorer’s attacking impetus.

Max Rhodes did well to win a loose ball on 20 minutes and he squared to Matty Ord, who forced Pinxton stopper Warren Squires into a crucial stop with his legs.

Pinxton went on to control the remainder of the half however. They took the lead on 28 minutes when a long ball forward caught the Town defence unawares and Harvey Ford was on hand to lift the ball over Lewis Naylor and into the net to make it 1-0 in the hosts favour.

The lead was doubled only a minute later and in very similar fashion. Bernard Nsiah found himself free in the same channel as Ford had moments before and he slotted the ball low past Naylor with his left foot for Pinxton’s second of the game.

Pinxton had further chances through Ben Jones and Jay Cooper as the half progressed; Dronfield looking somewhat disjointed by the enforced change in personnel. One crucial point of note occurred before the half time whistle – scorer Nsiah having to leave the field holding his hamstring to be replaced by Sam Collings.

Dronfield came out with a more measured, patient approach in the second half, mindful that aerial balls were being caught up in the stiff breeze. The approach paid dividends just before the hour mark.

A 20 yard snapshot from Sam Bebbington sailed over Squires and the contest was revitalised with the score at 2-1.

Town also introduced Chris Simpkins and Arthur Pashley for Isaac Reardon and Max Rhodes, allowing Bovill back into his more-familiar midfield berth, and looked more like the undefeated team of recent weeks.

Almost immediately, Connor Chapell headed wide of the mark with the goal at his mercy from mere yards out but it was a signal that Dronfield had intent.

Lewis Naylor made a vital stop at the feet of Cooper on 63 minutes but it was Town who levelled matters just three minutes afterwards.

Arthur Pashley produced a neat turn to wrong-foot his man at the top of the box but despite coming up with a pretty tame strike, the ball evaded the Pinxton defence and keeper to trickle into the bottom corner and tie up the game at 2-2.

Dronfield pressed for a winner. An overhead kick from the long legs of Bovill was scrambled away to safety off the crossbar by the home side. Town’s leading scorer also did well to bring the ball down on the stroke of regulation time but his half volley from the edge of the area just went over the crossbar.

In all, a draw was possibly a fair result between two sides so close together in the table. Town remain in eighth place on 63 points with a -3 goal difference and entertain nineteenth placed Pinchbeck United in their final game of the season at the Stonelow Stadium next Saturday. They can only be caught by Clifton All Whites, who are on 60 points but have a -13 goal difference and who take a trip to Shirebrook Town on the final day of the campaign.

Pinxton FC: Squires, Ford, Mogford, Hempshall, Northmore, Clarke, Green, Cooper, Nsiah, Newby, Jones. Subs: Rowbotham, Collings, Hamilton, Richards L, Richards M.

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

Attendance: 67