Ollerton Safe Despite Dronfield Defeat

Ollerton Town’s step six status is secured for another season despite a 3-1 defeat in blistering conditions at Dronfield Town.
After last weekends crucial 1-0 victory over Harworth Colliery, Ollerton knew they were almost safe and were hoping for a least a point to make sure. However, Harworth fell to a 1-0 defeat to Rossington Main meaning that Ollerton are guaranteed to be playing step six football again next season.
Dronfield knew that a win would see them finish in the top six and they began on the front foot, Charlie Stewart trying his luck from a free kick which was straight at Ollerton ‘keeper James Leverton.
In the ninth minute, Ollerton captain Sam Stretton found room on the right flank and he sent in a cross to the back post but Aaron Hewitt was unable to direct his header on goal.
The home side were shading the early proceedings and Leverton had to produce a good save with his feet in the 19th minute after Callum Mawbey beat the offside trap and went through on goal.
Three minutes later however, Dronfield did break the deadlock. Matty Ord found space on the edge of the Ollerton area and his low shot snuck in at the near post to give the hosts the lead.
After falling behind, Ollerton tweaked their formation and it produced an immediate reward as they levelled the game in the 32nd minute. Luke Pickering’s long throw from the left wing found Sam Stretton at the near post and he deftly directed the ball into the far corner.
Ollerton could have gone ahead just before half time but top ‘scorer Gav King skewed a shot wide of the post from 20 yards out.
Before the interval, Dronfield also had a chance to go back in front as Leverton failed to meet a Dronfield corner but Mawbey couldn’t keep his free header down.
Ten minutes into the second half, Dronfield scored once again to put their noses back in front. Mark Fereday spun Liam Cooper on the edge of the box and his strike down the middle of goal beat Leverton.
In the 61st minute, Ollerton had a great chance to draw level as Lewis Bingham slipped the ball through for King inside the area but after shifting the ball onto his right foot, the prolific marksman was closed down well by ‘keeper Lewis Naylor who saved the shot.
Dronfield were searching for a third goal which would kill the game and Ord fired straight at Leverton after a good run into the box whilst Cooper did well to clear a Fereday header off the line.
Ollerton continued to probe in the hope of drawing level once more but King could only find the wall with a free-kick from 25 yards out.
With fifteen minutes to go, Dronfield got their third to secure the three points. Mawbey’s effort was pushed wide by Leverton but Fereday was there to smash home the rebound from a tight angle.
Ollerton could have possibly pulled another goal back in the last minute when Aaron Hewitt ran into he area but his shot across goal was directed wide by the foot of Naylor.