Report by North Derbyshire Radio Senior Football Correspondent David Bell
The huge relegation six pointer didn’t go the way of Dronfield Town as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Nostell MW. There was little to choose between the sides throughout but an 11th minute strike from Thomas Booth and a 77th minute decider from Gracjan Klimczak saw the points go the way of the Wakefield-based hosts. In between the goals, Nostell saw Jordan Chippendale sent from the field for a foul on last man Max Rhodes but Dronfield were unable to exploit their extra man advantage and take anything from the game. Nostell now climb above Dronfield out of the relegation zone into 19th place, just a point above their Derbyshire rivals. However, defeat for Appleby Frodingham means that Town are now virtually certain not to finish in the bottom two with two games remaining to play.
The game almost began in astonishing fashion for Dronfield. Just two minutes had elapsed when Max Rhodes’ first time volley skewed off his boot and out of play with the goal in plain sight.
Both sides looked understandably nervy but Nostell settled in the ninth minute when Cyrus Rowe’s near side corner was turned just wide of the post by Charlie Austerfield.
Nostell took the lead on 11 minutes. Dronfield didn’t clear their lines with authority and as the ball fell into the path of Thomas Booth, his low shot from the edge of the area nestled in the bottom corner of Jake Balme’s net to make it 1-0.
The nervy pattern of play continued for the next fifteen minutes with Dronfield winning a series of throw-ins in dangerous areas but no-one could produce anything from Sam Bebbington’s long throws into the box.
Dronfield did end the half well though. One minute before the interval, a cross to the back post from the right flank saw Bebbington head wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.
One minute into added time, the best move of the game saw Matty Ord cross from the right. Max Rhodes stabbed the ball home but after collaboration between the referee and his assistant, the goal was ruled out for offside.
The game kept a familiar pattern at the start of the second half but when a chance did come, it was Dronfield’s. Ord’s low cross from the right skipped across the face of goal but no Dronfield player was available to apply the finishing touch.
The game took a dramatic turn on 62 minutes. Max Rhodes looked to be breaking free of the Nostell defence but he was hauled back by Jordan Chippendale. The referee had no hesitation in sending Chippendale from the field – Connor Chapell’s strike from the resulting free kick narrowly going wide of the target.
Dronfield were on the front foot with the sudden turn in events as Arran Bovill’s fierce hit from just inside the box was charged down by the Nostell defence.
Despite Dronfield’s increased dominance, it was Nostell who doubled their lead on 77 minutes. Town failed to clear a long ball forward, allowing striker Gracjan Klimczak to race in and drill the ball past Balme first time to give the ten men a 2-0 lead.
The visitors continued to pump balls into the final third to no avail as Nostell finished the encounter with two more good chances. Jack Gascoigne found himself in the clear as Dronfield got more desperate but his shot from 18 yards out curled well wide.
Then, 4 minutes into added time with Dronfield committed up field, Nostell substitute Thomas Palmer had time but Balme pulled off a good save to his right from his shot.
With Appleby Frodingham losing at Wombwell Town, it would now take a 30 goal swing in goal difference in the last two games for Dronfield to finish in the bottom two. However, Chris Millington’s men do slip back into the bottom three, one point behind Nostell who swap places with them in 19th. Nostell have Glasshoughton away and Harrogate Railway at home still to play with the result of their abandoned game against Shelley still to be decided. Town finish their campaign at Shelley but welcome 9th-placed Selby Town to the HE Barnes Stadium next Saturday.
Nostell MW: Tyas, Monkam Djeukam, Chippendale, Gascoigne, Taylor, Friedrich, Booth, Austerfield, Klimczak, Miller, Rowe. Subs: Smethurst, Street, Poole, Hughes, Palmer.
Dronfield Town: Balme, Thorpe J, Bebbington, Thorpe M, Lester, Riley, Chapell, Bovill, Rhodes, Naylor, Ord. Subs: Siddons, Wing, Gladwin, Hatton, Fereday.
Attendance: 90
