Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
A failure to kill the game off told on Dronfield Town as they slipped to defeat against Lincolnshire rivals Louth Town in their latest United Counties League Division One fixture. A wonderful finish from Arran Bovill gave Dronfield the lead early in the game that was equalised by Jack McSpadden just past the half hour mark. The lead was restored by Connor Chapell shortly after but Louth went in level at the break thanks to Alex Aldrich. Dronfield were unable to break down a stubborn Louth rearguard in the second half and were punished when Bradley Coulam got the winner for the visitors sixteen minutes from time. The result sees Louth climb above Dronfield in the table as Lewis Naylor’s side now turn their attentions to the visit of Glossop North End in the Derbyshire Senior Cup on Tuesday evening.
After Dronfield stopper Tom Hill tipped away Jack McSpadden’s curling shot in the opening stages, it was the North Derbyshire side who went on to take an early lead.
A tremendous piece of skill saw Arran Bovill tee up the ball and volley it over Stanley Simons in the Louth goal to give Dronfield a fourth minute one goal advantage.
Dronfield continued to provide some excellent forward moves but unfortunately the finishing wasn’t quite at the level of Bovill’s earlier effort.
Hill was called into action once again on 21 minutes, saving from Bailey Wright’s snap shot at the top of the area and ten minutes later, the visitors got back on level terms.
Dronfield full back Harrison Ireland undersold his back pass, allowing Theo Kitt-Bushell to intercept the ball and square to Jack McSpadden, who tapped gratefully into the empty net.
Dronfield regained their lead just three minutes later. A long throw saw Town’s Dan White head back across goal and as Louth attempted to scramble clear, Connor Chapell was on hand to stab the ball in from a couple of yards out to make it 2-1.
The open nature of the contest continued as Louth levelled matters once again before half time. On 40 minutes, a Harvey Lidgard cross from the left hand side saw Louth skipper Alex Aldrich climb the highest to head home and tie things up once again at 2-2.
The men from S18 started the brighter in the second half but failed to make their chances tell. Alex Wilkinson’s right footed volley was claimed by Simons in the opening stages before another flowing move saw the Louth keeper save firstly from Sam Bebbington and then Connor Chapell at the back post.
Bebbington’s glancing header went just wide from Chapell’s deep free kick on 55 minutes but despite all their pressure, Dronfield failed to break down a stubborn Louth rearguard.
The visitors from Lincolnshire got the game winner on 74 minutes. Tom Hill in the Dronfield goal pulled off a superb point-blank save but was powerless to stop Bradley Coulam forcing home the rebound as Louth went ahead by 3-2.
Dronfield went to their bench for inspiration but unfortunately it failed to materialise, leaving recently-installed manager Lewis Naylor still searching for his first win in charge. Town drop to nineteenth in the UCL Division One table but take a break from league action on Tuesday evening when Glossop North End come to the Stonelow Stadium for a second round Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup fixture.
Dronfield Town: Hill, Reardon, Ireland, Stewart, White, Mawbey, Chapell, Bovill, Rhodes, Bebbington, Wilkinson. Subs: Martin, Appleyard, Worrall, Watters, Walker.
Louth Town: Simons, Hipkin, Crawford, Walker, Coulam, Aldrich, Wright, Jacklin, Kitt-Bushell, Lidgard, McSpadden. Subs: Evison, Harrold, Taylor, Lait.
Attendance: 84
