GRIMSBY BOROUGH WONDER STRIKE BREAKS THE DEADLOCK

DRONFIELD TOWN 0 V GRIMSBY BOROUGH 1
NCEL 1 @ STONELOW ROAD 22 APRIL 2015 7.45PM

MATCH ACTION WITH THE GREAT WALL [FENCE] OF DRONFIELD IN PICTURE

This was an industrious game won with a wonderful free kick just 9 minutes from time by an ever improving Grimsby Borough who have seen the recovery come too late to avoid the bottom spot in the league.  Dronfield were challenged for a full strength team but will be disappointed with the final score tonight.
So back up to North Derbyshire tonight and as ever Dronfield visits start with Paul at the Jolly Frier for a large cod and chips and as usual a very enjoyable feast it was too.  Its around five weeks since my last visit to Dronfield for the game against Clipstone and there is a good review of the establishment and the ground here at Stonelow Rd so I wont re visit to much of that in this blog. 

A QUICK CUT BEFORE KICK OFF

So an early arrival at the ground saw large tractor racing up and down the pitch with a final mow of the grass before said operator disembarked to complete a smart job of the lines.  A quick dash back to pay and a nice chat with the gateman before taking a little of the Dronfield reserves game versus Eyam in the Hope Valley League which is on an outer pitch on site.  On arrival back to the main pitch it was encouraging to be welcomed by Dronfield manager Craig Butler who kindly invited me in for a mug of tea, cheers. 

THE MANAGEMENT CRAIG BUTLER [LEFT] AND JON GRAY

We had a little chat and it was good to see Dronfield recovering from a slow start after much re organisations following most of the teams departure to Clisptone in the close season.  The Town's season was disturbed by their serious drainage problems at Stonelow Rd something the club are working hard to solve in the close season, we wish them well in this venture.  It was also good to catch up with Rich Stevenson who would later be seen with goal keeping gloves on warming up keeper Steven Booth, Rich did request me to get his better side in any photo's hopefully I've got somewhere near mate?

COACH RICH STEVENSON AND HIS GOOD SIDE?

There was also a nice surprise in catching up with Matt Walsh former Alfreton Town maestro and now referees assessor following his journey into refereeing that saw him rise quickly to Conference level.  Good to catch up with Matt and reminisce about the Alfreton days in the 80's a club that I followed widely in that decade.  It was also interesting to hear Matt had played in Mickey Droy's Chelsea testimonial at Stamford Bridge when he was on Arsenal's books.  Chelsea was a side I watched in the not so good days in the 80's when they were struggling at the bottom of the old second division and when amazingly London derby games against Crystal Palace pulled in only around 8,000.  Still a nice new fact from Matt that I did not know about his time in football.
The crowd was slowly coming in , slowly being the optimum word as at 7.20 there was only the blog there, final gate just 22.  This is a real shame that a town the size of Dronfield cannot seem to come along and support the club, its all the more surprising when the club runs so many sections and there seems to be little attendance from these groups at first team home games.  Hopefully they will start to get behind the main team as they are a good crew here as ever trying to do their best.

TONIGHTS MATCH OFFICALS HEADED UP BY JOSH BRAMALL LEAD THE TEAMS OUT

The first half was an industrious hard working affair with little in the way of clear cut chances save for a fantastic double save from Grimsby keeper James Swann with a double effort in the same move from Christain Savage and then from the lose ball Nick Horsfield hit the post.

DUG OUTS AT STONELOW RD

The second half saw Dronfield start strong with Savage setting off on a weaving run on 55 minutes and his end shot well parried by Swann in the visitors goal.
Gradually though Grimsby got an upper hand in the game and on 63 minutes they nearly took the lead when Steve Davis, right on cue, fired a cross goal shot that saw Luke Fanthorpe just fail to connect at the far post for what would have been the opening goal.  Dronfield had a further lucky escape on 71 minutes Kyle Bensley's superb through ball set up Daniel Simpson who fired wide as Dronfield keeper Booth came out to meet him.  Then ten minutes later Dronfield saw their luck run out Referee Bramall awarded the visitors a free kick 20 yards out for a foul and Borough captain James Atkin hit a curling dipping free kick that evaded the wall and lodged itself into the left hand side of the goal for a superb strike that belied much of the previous efforts of both sides in this game.
One goal settled it and Dronfield will probably feel slightly unfortunate but Grimsby became stronger as the game went on and will be delighted with another victory as they look to tighten the gap at the bottom of the table its just a shame for them that their recovery as come way to late to save their season.
Quick walk back to Dronfield station for a five minute journey before bussing back to base.  Good visit with some friendly faces making the evening enjoyable.

THE NOW SEATED STAND WITH EX DON VALLEY STADIUM
BIN ON SHOW, SAD HOPPER SPOT!