Shirebrook overcome ten-man Dronfield Town

A Jake Currie double followed by a third for Adam Shepherd wrapped up the win inside the first 45 minutes and moved Shirebrook level on points with second-placed AFC Mansfield in the table.

Both sides struggled to get to grips with the wet conditions during the opening exchanges.

Dronfield possibly shaded it but were unable to convert any of their chances from corners and open play, which again proved to be their downfall as Shirebrook made them pay.

The visitors gave away a needless free-kick on 25 minutes and presented Shirebrook with a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock that they took.

Ord’s delivery found Jake Currie at the near post and he headed in to give the home side the lead.

Shirebrook now had the bit between there teeth and began to push forward.

A second arrived in the 33rd-minute when Greenfield broke through down the right and his shot was parried by the keeper into the path of Currie who put the ball into an empty net.

Shirebrook began to really test the Dronfield keeper but he was equal to most of the efforts.

In the 41st-minute a cross from the right caused the ball to pinball around the box before Adam Shepherd made no mistake to stretch Shirebrook’s advantage.

The home side had a three-goal advantage and Dronfield’s frustrations soon came to the fore as they were reduced to ten men late on in the the first half.

Mat Darlow sent off for kicking out at Wez Hill.

With most of the job done in the first 45 minutes, Shirebrook went down a few gears at the start of the second half but still managed to keep the visitors at bay, playing to the conditions.

Cardwell and Hill kicked and headed everything in sight and with Shirebrook still looking dangerous in attack they did have the ball in the net again, when Gibson’s header took a deflection off Currie.

But it was chalked off as Currie was standing in an off-side position.

Dronfield battled hard and late in the game started to put together some encouraging attacks, but again couldn’t convert any of them into a goal.