Saturday 22 May 2010

Retford Town v Kinsley Boys - Doncaster Senior League Premier Division

Kinsley's 40th minute penalty is saved by Craig Holland.
It was a bit of a daisy cutter.

Saturday 22nd May 2010
Doncaster Senior League Premier Division
at Tiln Lane, Retford

Retford Town (2) 4
(Dan House 17, James Woodward 28, 65, Ian Woodward 73)
Kinsley Boys (3) 4
(S Oates 11, 22, 41, P Gill 50)

Admission Free, Programme £1,
Attendance varied between 23 and 27 over the afternoon, the previous highest attendance for a RTFC game at Tiln Lane was 22 ... you lot don't know what you are missing.
Martin 'Buster' Keaton gives out free refreshments on a scorching afternoon

Despite appearances the pitch had been mowed on Tuesday, but today the guy who usually does it was on holiday in Turkey.
One onlooker commented "Bleedin' hell, this'll be the first time I've seen a game called off because the pitch is dandelion hogged"
Right Said Fred take time out from rehearsals to watch the game

Kinsley have been storming up the league with purpose recently and took the game to Retford from the off.
But the home side will have been disappointed with the visitors first two goals, both free headers by the same player direct from corners, even though Dan House had scored Retford's first in between times.
James Woodward put Retford level again just before the half hour and Kinsley were going to need a few more corners to score from if they were to finish third in the table this afternoon.
Deeply dippy

Craig Holland got down really well to deny Oates an hat trick from the penalty spot, it was a blinding save from the keeper who was standing in for Jason Holberry today, I'm led to believe he usually turns out for Mattersey FC of the Gainsborough and District League, they have their own website and everything http://www.soccerweekend.com/team/index.asp?TeamID=18051
Alas, Oates claimed his hat trick two minutes later, direct from a corner again (inevitably), though from where I was stood it looked to have gone in straight off a Retford player at the back post, though nobody has stepped forward to claim it as of yet ;-)
Last man out take the goalposts with you

When Gill put the Boys club ahead five minutes into the second half the game was theirs to be won. But, for whatever reason, they didn't change their shape to contain Town from now on in and a goal apiece from 'Woodwards of Retford', James and Ian, saw the Tiln Road side pull the game back to four apiece.
Kinsley thought there was a shade of offside about Retford's third goal, but there was no disputing the quality of the fourth.
"REAL ALES ... & CAVORTING" Hmm, intriguing.

Retford Town very thoughtfully provided free cold drinks for everybody present at half time, which was greatly appreciated by us all on the hottest day of the year so far.
The secret of getting a good tan is out ... don't bother going to Florida and spending a load of money this summer, grab yourself a tent and head up to Bolham ... mind you, take a few anti histamine tablets along if you are allergic to wild flowers and long grass.
The Retford coaches on the bench threw cold drinks out to their players during a break in play, at which point a young man by the name of Woodward discovered he couldn't actually catch and his bottle hit him smack in the face and doused him in water ... of course this kind of thing is bound to happen straight in front of where everybody is stood watching and laughing at you.
The lad took his soaking with a remarkable amount of composure and dignity under the circumstances.
The draw meant Kinsley Boys finished the table in fourth whilst Retford Town finished fifth, both will be hoping to improve on that next season, but there are some really good sides at the top end of the DSL this season.An entertaining game on a very warm afternoon and a good time was had by all, including the usual band of local regulars, plus a small gathering made up of Worksop Town fans, Retford United supporters, the Frickley Athletic massive, Scotter United's finest, a guy who came all the way from Oldham to watch the game, a lad from Pontefract in serious need of a good haircut ;-) and the always charming and ultra knowledgeable Gordon Foster from Rainworth Miners Welfare - congratulations to them on their promotion to the UniBond/Evo-Stik League by the way.
We were going to be joined by a Lincoln City fan but his girlfriend (for now until I pinch her from him) wouldn't let him come out to play today.
It was good to see one of the Worksop contingent who doesn't bother with a programme still insisted on paying something to watch the game.
This blog paid a few quid to have the web address printed in an advert on the results page in Retford Town's excellent programme. It doesn't hurt to chip in towards the running costs of a local club grass roots club.
RTFC are always a very welcoming club and it's free to watch games at Tiln Lane, they went out of their way to make sure we all got some liquid on board and they fetched chairs out for those who didn't want to stand watching the game in that sort of heat for a whole ninety minute. Of course, being supremely fit and athletic, I managed a whole ninety minutes and even ran a couple of laps around the pitch after the game - it's a shame everyone else had gone home and missed that, it was a new personal best time as well.
Just one more game for me this season now, Monday's friendly international at Wembley between England and Mexico. I suspect there will be a few more at that game and the programmes won't cost a quid.