Dronfield competitive at Sandiacre yet fall to defeat once more

It was another in a long line of fixtures where Dronfield Town were competitive but ultimately went down to a 3-0 defeat at Sandiacre Town. A scoreless first half was followed by a frustrating second period where former Dronfield player Aston Thompson scored two close range goals to bookend by a third from Isaac Morledge that gave the Notts / Derbys border side the victory. Results elsewhere were kind to Dronfield, who remain in 19th position in the UCL Division One table, but they now need to break a run of six without a win. Their next opportunity sees them welcome Cotgrave FC to the Stonelow Stadium on Saturday; the side that they lost 4-3 to on the opening day of the season.

The game started positively for Dronfield. An early foray forward for left back Matthew Leader resulted in his shot going over the bar but the intent was there.

Sandiacre replied with a low strike from Callum Foster from the edge of the box that was comfortably claimed by Tom Hill in the Dronfield goal as a competitive but slightly scrappy first half played out.

On 15 minutes, Alex Wilkinson spotted Sandiacre keeper Anthony Young out of position but his long range attempt to beat him went wide of the mark.

Dronfield’s best chance of the whole game came on 24 minutes. Good work on the right hand side saw Max Rhodes deliver a pinpoint cross but a header from the unmarked Arran Bovill went straight into the arms of the grateful Young in the Sandiacre net.

Neither side managed to put their foot on the ball as the game became somewhat rushed and frantic but before the half ended, Dronfield had one moment of consternation when a stiff backpass from Dan White to keeper Tom Hill saw him slice his clearance out of play for a corner.

The second half began in a similar vein. Hill managed a low stop from Tom Swift but central defender Dan White suffered an injury in the build up and was replaced by Harrison Ireland.

Sandiacre took the lead on 61 minutes. Dronfield were opened up for the first time by a crossfield ball from Isaac Morledge to Callum Foster. His low cross from the right flank was forced home on the slide at close range by former Dronfield player Aston Thompson to give the hosts the lead.

Dronfield almost levelled matters five minutes later when Young first saved from Bovill and then Sandiacre cleared off the line from Alex Wilkinson’s follow up.

The second goal for Sandiacre came as a hammer blow to Dronfield however. Swift got free of the Dronfield defence but was met by an excellent point-blank stop from Hill. Unfortunately, the ball conveniently rebounded to Isaac Morledge who tapped into the empty goal to make it 2-0.

The three points went the home side’s way with their final goal on 84 minutes. A Sandiacre player looked to be clearly in an offside position down on the byeline but he was allowed to square for Thompson to tap in from inches out and wrap up the game at 3-0.

Young punched off the line from Dronfield substitute Callum Martin deep in injury time but the final whistle left Lewis Naylor’s side to rue another afternoon where they were undoubtedly competitive but on the wrong end of a comprehensive scoreline.

Town complete their first double-header of the season on Saturday when league newcomers Cotgrave FC come to the Stonelow Stadium. The Nottinghamshire side were 4-3 victors over Dronfield in July on the first day of the season.

Sandiacre Town: Young, Foster, Taylor S, McGrath, Padovani, Rock, Wood, Payne, Swift, Thompson, Morledge. Subs: Taylor K, Neil, Johnson, Thomas, Azeb.

Dronfield Town: Hill, Reardon, Leader, Stewart, Morgan, Mawbey, Chapell, Bovill, Rhodes, Wilkinson, White. Subs: Watters, Ireland, Worrall, Gyasi, Martin.

Attendance: 45