Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell

Dronfield Town returned from a three week break in action to claim a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Sandiacre Town. The game had originally been abandoned at the end of January following a heavy downpour and the ensuing bad weather in the interim meant that the pitch was understandably heavy. Town claimed a 38th minute lead through a Sam Bebbington header and had to thank skipper Lewis Naylor for a second half penalty save to stay in the contest. The North Derbyshire side even had to weather the sin-binning of Callum Mawbey but did so with grit and determination to claim a very welcome three points given the lengthy break from competitive play. Town remain in 14th place despite the victory and welcome bottom side Rainworth MW to the Stonelow Stadium on Saturday for their next UCL Division One encounter.

It was clear from the off that flowing, attractive football would be difficult given the playing surface. A tough challenge on Sam Bebbington in the opening stages saw the referee choosing not to reach for a yellow card as both sides tried to impose themselves on the game.

A good spell of pressure around the 12th minute mark ended with a Connor Chapell free kick from around 20 yards out that comfortably cleared the crossbar.

Dronfield’s momentum continued to gather but just past the quarter of an hour stage, Matty Ord’s cross from the right was too high for an open Luke Walker.

Moments after, Sandiacre blazed over the bar from 12 yards out through Luke Williamson after a useful move down the right flank and despite both sides battling away, there were few moves of genuine quality.

Dronfield broke the deadlock on 38 minutes. Matty Ord’s nearside corner saw the ball planted into the back of the net through a stooping Sam Bebbington header to give Town a 1-0 lead.

Buoyed by the goal, Dronfield finished the half the stronger. Four minutes from the break, a mis-timed Sandiacre defensive header saw Arran Bovill poke the ball over the crossbar at the back post.

Sandiacre introduced substitute Ryan Hlabangana at the break and came out with greater intensity. Their busy start saw the Dronfield bench calling for greater intensity too and they almost got level just before the hour mark.

With the Dronfield defence at sixes and sevens, Hlabangana contrived to miss an open goal from close range that would have added further intrigue to the encounter.

The 61st minute saw Sandiacre scramble clear a Dan Shelbourne header and then go immediately up the other end of the pitch where Luke Williamson forced a save out of Town stopper Lewis Naylor.

Naylor saved a turn and shot from robust striker Wayde Hines on 70 minutes and came to his side’s rescue two minutes after.

The referee adjudged that Dan Shelbourne had pushed Hines in the back and pointed to the penalty spot. As he has done on many occasions in the past, Naylor saved Hines spot kick with his legs and Town could breath a sigh of relief again.

In the protestations about the award of the penalty, Dronfield’s Callum Mawbey was sent to the sinbin. Town reorganised by withdrawing Luke Walker and Isaac Reardon and introducing the returning Kenan McKenzie-Grey and Dan White in an altogether more defensive formation.

Mawbey eventually endured 13 minutes on the bench as Dronfield weathered the storm and despite man of the match Naylor making a further save from Hines three minutes from time, there was delight at the victory at the end given Town’s lengthy enforced break from competitive play.

Results elsewhere meant that Dronfield remain in 14th in the UCL Division One table but are now four points clear of the team in 15th, Clipstone FC. Town’s next fixture sees bottom side Rainworth MW travel to the Stonelow Stadium on Saturday with 12 games remaining in the 2025-26 campaign.

Sandiacre Town: Liburd-Hines, Durose, Brown, Brandon, Burrows, Williamson J, Smith, Williamson L, Hines, Goddard, Williams. Subs: Godwin, Hlabangana, Vipond, Almond, Wade.

Dronfield Town: Naylor, Reardon, Simpkins, Watters, Shelbourne, Mawbey, Chapell, Bovill, Bebbington, Walker, Ord. Subs: Appleyard, McKenzie-Grey, Benaissa, Gladwin, White.

Attendance: 45