Floodlit Joy for Blues

After the disappointment of Saturday’s big defeat at Askern the Town Manager Kevin O’Neill again rang the changes for their Floodlit Cup 2nd Round Tie against Dronfield Town Reserves on Wednesday night, including former Town favourite James Lloyd making his first appearance of the season, and this resulted in a much improved display which saw Town through to the next round with a 4 – 1 victory.
With both teams eager to get forward the first half was fairly evenly contested though Town created the better chances but had Joe Brumpton, especially, thwarted by some good stops by the visiting keeper. A tendency for the forwards to get caught offside by the visitor’s well organised defence was also frustrating with the result that at half time Town had only a single goal to show for their efforts from a James Lloyd header from a corner in the 12th minute.
Town doubled this lead within a minute of the start of the second half as Danny Purves finished well after a long cross from Tom Wilford had eluded the visitors defence. With keeper Sam Russell being forced into action more as the visitors pressed forward looking for a goal to get back in the game Town for once got the rub of the green when after 65 minutes a long ball forward by FP McGregor saw the visiting keeper miss the ball completely as he left his area leaving Joe Brumpton with an easy knock in to make it 3 – 0. However the visitors kept pressing and were rewarded with a goal after 75 minutes when the Town defence failed to deal with a cross from the right, After 80 minutes Town lost keeper Sam Russell through injury with Danny Purves taking over but he was little troubled during the last 10 minutes as Tom Wilford broke clear in the 85th minute to make the game save as he crashed a 15 yarder into the back of the net.
Manager O’Neill commented that he was "highly pleased with a fine all round team performance from the squad on the night”. Regular supporters were again left to ask which Town side will turn up at Bentley on Saturday – Doctor Jekyll or Mr Hyde!

Report by Jim Todd