Dronfield Town climbed back to fifteenth in the Northern Counties East League Division One table and to within three points of visitors Glasshoughton Welfare with a comfortable 2-0 win over the West Yorkshire side. First half goals from Connor Chapell and Danny Wood sealed the three points before a scrappy second period played out. The victory returns the Derbyshire side to winning ways before the visit of league leaders Hallam FC on Saturday.
Dronfield gave a debut to Alfie Milnes in goal and the young stopper comfortably claimed the first effort of the evening from Glasshoughton’s Lewis Stephens after ten minutes.
Glasshoughton managed to strike Milnes’ left hand post when Jordan Chippendale’s left footed attempt found the Dronfield defence wanting but the remainder of the half was all about the home side.
On thirty seven minutes, good work down the right hand side by Danny Wood saw the ball fed to Sam Bebbington in the box. Bebbington was clattered and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Connor Chapell stepped up and placed his penalty kick to Mark Bower’s left to give Dronfield a one nil lead.
Town wasted little time in doubling that advantage. Six minutes later, a ball over from the left hand side was skilfully hooked inside the far post by the right boot of Danny Wood as one nil soon became two.
Wood headed just wide from Chapell’s corner a minute before half time conclude a very satisfactory final fifteen minutes for the Derbyshire side.
Glasshoughton were forced to change keepers at half time and made the better start to the second half. James Cusworth headed into Milnes’ hands three minutes after the restart and Dronfield’s Jake Hatton headed off the line two minutes later from Glasshoughton’s nearside corner.
The visitors spell of pressure petered out on 51 minutes when Dronfield’s young stopper made an excellent save with his legs after Kyle Fisk burst into the area.
The remainder of the half was frankly scrappy, punctuated by niggly fouls and a series of yellow cards for both teams. Particularly unfortunate was Dronfield substitute Regan Rooke, who lasted only four minutes before having to leave the field following a late challenge, replaced by fellow substitute Owen Lester.
In truth, it was a relatively comfortable win for Dronfield, whose back four of Billy Wright, Tom Gladwin, Jake Hatton and Stuart Hill were resolute and never really looked like being breached.
League leaders Hallam FC, 4-0 victors over Town back in September, are the visitors to the HE Barnes Stadium on Saturday for what should be an intriguing derby day encounter.
Dronfield Town: Milnes, Wright, Gladwin, Flower, Hill, Hatton, Chapell, Mawbey, Wood, Bebbington, Ord. Subs: Rooke, Lester, Furness, Knight, Mark Fereday.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Bower, Simpson, Cunliffe, Robinson, Walsh, Gray, Stephens, Nelson, Cusworth, Chippendale, Fisk. Subs: Bell, Milner, Cassana.
Attendance: 78
Photo: Ken Allsebrook