Toolstation NCEL Division One
Dronfield Town 1-2 Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Hemsworth captain Jason Yates celebrates promotion with a handful of the club’s volunteers and supporters after the 2-1 victory at Dronfield Town.
Champions-elect Hemsworth Miners Welfare will be playing in the Premier Division for the first time in their history next season after a stirring second half fight-back at Dronfield Town.
Half-fit striker Danny Critchlow provided the deft touch in the final quarter of an hour to propel the Wells to promotion. The title is theirs for the taking on Saturday as a trip to already relegated Lincoln awaits. Their status as champions could be confirmed tonight if AFC Mansfield fail to beat Yorkshire Amateur.
Plenty of Wells fans travelled across to the far side of South Yorkshire to see the historic night. Their perfect script was ripped up after 20 minutes when Dronfield took a shock lead from Callum Mawbey’s bullet free kick.
Towards the end of the first half, Hemsworth were struggling to keep the deficit at one. Hands were in mouths when Alex Mosley’s effort flashed just wide of Chris Snaith’s goal.
Sam Jones in action during Hemsworth’s 2-1 win at Dronfield Town
We’re going up: Hemsworth players celebrate promotion
Hemsworth captain Jason Yates high-fives the club’s supporters
The second half was a different story. Wells controlled the proceedings for the vast majority, taking the game to their time-wasting hosts. Showing the makings of a side that had only lost three league matches all season, the Wells ferociously probed Dronfield’s creaking defence to ensure they were level within five minutes. Captain Jason Yates, leading by example, did all the hard work by forcing his way into the penalty area. The pass to Billy Law left Dronfield exposed and the striker majestically turned before burying the close range chance.
Hemsworth had control of the possession stats and for the next 20 minutes, most of the action was played out in Dronfield’s half. The brave of introduction Critchlow, who hadn’t appeared since going off injured at Emley in mid-March, added a different dimension to the champions-elect’s attack and that was the difference.
Although tireless was creeping in, Dronfield were not out of it. That was proved when Snaith batted Mawbey’s volley for a corner.
Time was clearly running out for the Wells to get over the finish line at the first opportunity until a moment of brilliance from two of their star players. Knowing Critchlow could leave Dronfield’s defence for dead, Shane Kelsey raced to the left side to take a quick long throw to send the former Nostell striker away, leaving two defenders in his wake in the process. A penalty would have been given as one nearly pulled the shirt off his back, but Critchlow ignored the foul and applied a neat finish to take the ball past goalkeeper Steven Booth – cueing pandemonium.
Critchlow nearly breached Dronfield’s back four again. In this instance, his run was halted by Jack Hague, who deservedly picked up a second yellow card for wiping the striker out.
Law hit the crossbar as the Wells searched for the killer third goal, but it wasn’t needed before party was officially started.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare manager Wayne Benn:
Dronfield Town: Booth, Morley, Butler (captain), Willis, Hague, Fairweather, Owen (Anthony 78), Mosley (Akhaven-Hezavem 65), Mawbey, Bebbington, Hoyland (Darlow 81). Subs unused: Gray, Dickinson.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Snaith, Wilson, Clark, Swift (Bucknall 84), Viggars, Danville, Connolly (Blair 65), Yates (captain), Law, Jones (Critchlow 61), Kelsey. Sub unused: Hayward
Referee: Mr Mehdi Najefi
Ref Rating: 6/10
Attendance: 67
Man of the match: Jason Yates (Hemsworth Miners Welfare)