Ollerton's Inconsistencies Strike Again After Dronfield Loss

There was some debate as to whether Ollerton's game on Saturday would go ahead and they were left wishing it had fell victim to the weather after they lost 4-0 to Dronfield Town.
The game was free entry and after Dronfield had heavily publicised this great incentive, they deserve credit to get the game on despite the pitch not being in the best condition. The state of the pitch can't be seen as an excuse for Ollerton's performance however as Dronfield adjusted better to the conditions, going into half time 1-0 up before three goals in the second half saw them secure a big victory.
It was a disappointing result for Ollerton who failed to build on last week's empathic 6-2 win over Brigg Town. Ollerton have struggled to find any consistency this season and Manager Dave Winter will be hoping that over the last eleven games of the season, they can put a run of form together that puts them further away from the bottom three.
Despite the result, it was actually Ollerton who started the game the brighter, and they were denied twice by the woodwork in the opening stages. After just two minutes, Lewis Bingham sent in a free-kick from the right which Brandon Shaw headed against the bar. Later, on seventeen minutes, the bar denied Ollerton again. Bingham knocked the ball back to Sam Dockwray and his poked effort hit the bar, bounced down and was cleared away. It looked like some of, if not all of the ball, had crossed the line but having gotten away with a similar incident last week, Ollerton couldn't really complain.
In between these two chances, Dronfield saw a good headed opportunity go wide before they took the lead with four minutes left of the half. A powerful, long-range strike by Ryan Ruddiforth flew into the bottom corner, leaving Ollerton's debutant goalkeeper, Joe Parker, with no chance.
On the balance of play, there was little separating the two sides going into the half time break and Ollerton would have been hoping to find a way back into game. That task was made more difficult a minute into the second period however when Dronfield doubled their lead. Lax defending by Ollerton allowing Blake Owen to score from a few yards out.
Sam Dockwray fired into the side netting as Ollerton went in search of an immediate response but they were also getting caught out on the counter-attack though wasteful Dronfield finishing meant they couldn't extend their lead.
Ollerton made a substitution, bringing on Josh Dodd for Rob Evans, moving Brandon Shaw to left back. The switch nearly paid dividends as Shaw crossed for Greg Tobin but the Dronfield 'keeper was equal to his effort.
From this, Dronfield broke up the other end and Parker was forced to produce a great double save as the home side looked for a third goal to kill the tie.
Ollerton were starting to build pressure and from Lewis Bingham's corner, Brandon Shaw flicked a header towards goal which beat the 'keeper, was hacked away by the man on the line.
Despite Ollerton's efforts, it was Dronfield who scored next to secure the three points. From a scramble in the area, the ball fell to Blake Owen a few yards out and he converted his second goal of the game.
That goal killed the game in truth though Ollerton did still have a few chances. Substitute Josh Brentnall saw a one-on-one effort saved, fellow sub Jamie Royle fired over from inside the area and Lewis Bingham's acrobatic overhead kick was on target but lacked the power to beat the 'keeper.
With a minute of normal time left on the clock, Dronfield added a fourth to rub salt in the Ollerton wounds. A Dronfield attacker was slipped through down the right hand side and he pulled the ball back for Theo Wilson who tapped home.
On the day, there's no question that Dronfield deserved their victory but Ollerton will be left frustrated at not giving a true reflection of their quality. There's not a four goal difference in the quality of the two sides but words are meaningless and actions are what speak volumes, and Ollerton will now look to bounce back in a tough-looking home tie against Hall Road Rangers next week.