Ollerton Town beat the weather but not Dronfield

Ollerton’s home match against Dronfield in the First Division of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League was one of the few in the area to survive the week’s heavy rain. And they received rich plaudits for ensuring that their pitch was playable.

However, the absence of several key players cost them dear as they slid to a 3-1 defeat to bring to an end their run of improved form in recent weeks.

Their injury problems also mounted because they lost both captain Sam Stretton and star striker Sam Foulds in the second half.

Dronfield, who sit just above Ollerton in the table, got off to a flying start with a high-quality goal after only two minutes when Mark Fereday’s lashed volley o n the turn on the edge of the box found the roof of the net.

The hosts struggled to gain a foothold, but the introduction of Aaron Hewitt brought them to life and, in the 35th minute, he provided the cross for Foulds to head an equaliser.

Sadly, the parity lasted only seven minutes because a lobbed cross-cum-shot from Matty Ord restored Dronfield’s lead. And three minutes into the second half, the same player struck again when Ollerton defender George Slack lost possession, enabling Fereday to break and square for Ord to slot into an open net.

The home side fought valiantly for the rest of the game, but failed to test the ‘keeper, with the best chance falling to Sean Dickinson, who opted to pass instead of shoot from close range.