Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell

A long away trip to Harrowby United proved fruitless for Dronfield Town as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat. Jacob Boyes early opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Max Rhodes’ leveller on 19 minutes. However, Harrowby took the lead through Kene Ukatu on the stroke of half time and sealed victory with a Kieran Stanley strike three minutes into the second half. The game was mired in controversy during that second period with Dronfield’s Aston Thompson and Callum Mawbey sent to the sinbin and Town manager Chris Millington receiving a red card after the conclusion of the game as the officiating superceded what potentially should have been a decent game of football. Town take a break from league action to visit AFC Mansfield on Tuesday evening in the UCL Cup.

Again, a slow start told on Dronfield. Just six minutes had passed when Harrowby striker Kene Ukatu poked the ball inside to Jacob Boyes, who had the relatively easy task of slotting past Lewis Naylor to give the hosts a one goal advantage.

Harrowby continued to cause Dronfield problems and on 16 minutes, Luke Cullen managed to make space but skewed his left footed attempt over the bar with the visitors under the cosh.

Dronfield did seize their first real opportunity on 19 minutes however. Naylor’s long ball forward was well headed on by Sam Bebbington into the path of Max Rhodes, who produced a calm finish from the penalty spot region to put the sides on level terms.

Harrowby, who were playing at Step 5 last season, forced Naylor into a point blank stop on 26 minutes from Ukatu as the impressive Aston Thompson managed to block Boyes’ follow-up attempt.

The game became a much more even contest late in the half as Jack Worrall’s shot from a Dronfield corner was charged down as Harrowby immediately went up the other end of the field with Kieran Stanley’s cross going across the face of goal.

Just as Dronfield appeared to be coming to terms with the game, they suffered a further blow on the stroke of half time. A decisive clearance failed to materialise and a sliding Ukatu managed to force the ball home from 6 yards out to make it 2-1 in the host’s favour.

Harrowby got their third three minutes after the resumption. A quick free kick found Kieran Stanley with acres of room and time on the left flank and he buried his low shot past Lewis Naylor into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

The game became mired in controversy midway through the second half. A Harrowby player appeared to throw the ball towards the corner flag to prevent Dronfield making a quick resumption but it was Dronfield’s Aston Thompson who was sent to the sinbin for his protestations.

The game quickly descended into farce with Town manager Chris Millington being given a yellow card and then Callum Mawbey joining Thompson in the dugout after what appeared to be a clear foul on a Dronfield player.

Dronfield rang their substitutions after both players eventually returned to the field but the game was killed as a spectacle by the petty nature of the officiating.

Dronfield substitute Emmanuel Rogers produced a good run deep in added time that ended with his shot going narrowly wide but in truth, the result in favour of the impressive-looking home side was probably deserved.

Town manager Chris Millington was given a red card after the conclusion of the game when attempting to ask a question of the officials that had been corroborated by several of his players, which summed up an afternoon where the game had not been allowed flourish.

Dronfield look to bounce back on Tuesday evening with a trip to AFC Mansfield in the UCL Cup. Kick off is 7.45pm.

Harrowby United: Martin, Stuart, Brakewell, Daff, Evans, Maule, Robb, Cullen, Ukatu, Boyes, Stanley. Subs: Wright, Milne, Johnson, Ainslie, Bruiners.

Dronfield Town: Naylor, Reardon, Simpkins, Stewart, Thompson, Mawbey, Chapell, Worrall, Rhodes, Walker, Bebbington. Subs: Leader, Martin, Benaissa, Rogers, Ord.

Attendance: 122