The points were shared at the HE Barnes Stadium as Dronfield held our Women’s First Team to a 1-1 draw yesterday afternoon.

In a game with not much created by either side, an inevitable Beth Wharton strike was cancelled out by the hosts in Derbyshire.

Ben Challen made two changes to the side that were victorious away at Belper, with Harriet Dalton and Abbie Emslie entering the fold in place of Alisha Dejonge and Sophie Gray who took their places on the bench.

Ellie Gribbin kept her spot in between the sticks, with a backline of Olivia Kershaw, Chloe Thorpe, Leah Wray and the returning Dalton sitting in front of her.

Captain Dani Brighton and Laura Flecknor made up the midfield, with Abbie Emslie and Ray Swallow sitting out wide on the wings and Lily Jacklin operating in the ten role behind striker Beth Wharton.

The first chance of the game fell for the Mariners. Some great work by Wharton saw her initial effort wide, before the ball fell to Flecknor and her first time shot also headed off target.

Wharton gave Town the advantage before the clock hit 30 minutes, as the ball fell to her feet, and she turned before fired confidently into the bottom confidently.

A quick response from the hosts saw them level the score two minutes later and it was all to play for going into the break.

The opening stages of the second-half saw little action for either side, with most of the action happening in the midfield and no one being able to find a way through on goal.

Penalty appeals for Town on 75 minutes saw Wharton hit the deck, but the referee waved play on and the ball broke to Ray Swallow, but her effort was over the bar.

Some great play from substitute Izzy Fawcett shortly after saw the ball catch under the feet of Wharton, but it was too wide for Dalton to get a shot away and it was comfortable for the Dronfield to clear.

As the clock wound down, Town broke the offside trap through Fawcett, who squared the ball to Wharton who put the ball in the back of the net, but much to the frustration of the visitors, the referee blew his whistle for offside and that was the last of the action.

Next up for our Women’s First Team is a tie at home to local rivals Grimsby Borough.

Town: Gribbin, Dalton, Wray, Brighton, Kershaw, Thorpe, Emslie, Flecknor, Wharton, Jacklin, Swallow

Subs: Dejonge, Fawcett, Gray, Green, Barker