Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s David Bell
Dronfield Town’s inconsistencies reared their head once again with a baffling 6-0 home defeat at the hands of Southwell City. Town had performed admirably at the weekend to gain a very creditable point against FCV Grace Dieu but looked a completely different side as goals from Byron Adiado, Akand Gangotra (x2) and Kaeden Bennison put the visitors up by 4-0 at half time. Dronfield rallied slightly at the start of the second half but two second half strikes from substitute Ethan Widdowson gave the Notts outfit a win they completely and thoroughly deserved. The question must be begged – which Dronfield Town side will turn up on Saturday when they play host to Clifton All Whites?
A mere two minutes had been played when Max Rhodes saw his shot saved by Tom Ashman in the Southwell goal. That was about as positive as it got for the hosts as Southwell started their rout.
On 9 minutes, Byron Adiado was put in the clear; he checked his run and fired past Lewis Naylor from 12 yards out to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
They got their second on 17 minutes. Akand Gangotra burst through the middle of the Dronfield defence. Lewis Naylor saved his first effort but Gangotra made no mistake with the second to double the lead.
Max Rhodes turned his shot over the bar from close range on 21 minutes but it was Southwell who exploited defensive frailties not long after. A low cross in from the right saw Kaeden Bennison first to the ball to sidefoot home from close range to make it 3-0.
Three became four just three minutes later. Adiado had the beating of the Dronfield defence once again and he pulled the ball back for Gangotra to get his second of the night and Southwell’s fourth.
Dronfield’s recent injury worries worsened as Dan White was replaced by Mike Fereday late in the half, giving Town yet another mountain to climb.
Playing for solely pride, Dronfield did at least start the second half brighter. A useful Fereday shot was deflected out for a corner in the early stages. Callum Mawbey pulled the trigger on a 20 yarder that missed the target and from a ball forward, Max Rhodes produced a half volley that went narrowly wide of the mark.
Gangotra almost secured his hat-trick on the hour mark. Lewis Naylor was forced into a good save to his right hand side to deny the pacy front man his third.
Southwell did claim their fifth on 63 minutes however. With the Dronfield defence under pressure as they had been all night, substitute Ethan Widdowson had time to pick his spot and drive home low to make it 5-0.
Widdowson got his second of the evening on 76 minutes. He weaved his way into the area unchallenged. Lewis Naylor got a hand to the shot but couldn’t prevent it bobbling into the net to close the scoring at 6-0.
It remains difficult to explain how a side can go from a hardworking and engaging performance one game and yet fail so abjectly the next. The defeat sees Dronfield drop to 14th in the table with a -16 goal difference while Southwell climb to 15th. Dronfield play host to Clifton All Whites at Stonelow on Saturday. Town were 2-0 victors over Clifton back in August but with such inconsistency at the moment, it remains to be seen which Dronfield side turns up on the day.
Dronfield Town: Naylor, Vardy, Mawbey, Ord, White, Turner, Stewart, Bovill, Rhodes, Bancroft, Pashley. Subs: Appleyard, Walker, Mark Fereday, Mike Fereday, Shelbourne.
Southwell City: Ashman, Warner, Johnson, Bryant, Peace-McDonald, Armstrong, Adiado, Stocks, Gangotra, Wealthall, Bennison. Subs: Harrison, Widdowson, Geekie, Powers, Glover.
