Wednesday 27th July 2011 - at Cannon ParkFriendly
Retford United (0) 1 (Adam Scott (pen) 60)
Belper Town (0) 0
Admission £5, Programme £1, Attendance 102
Holding, or leaning in?Retford United:
Fisher, Baugh, Smith, Hayes, Nightingale, Payne, Owens, Chappell, Rick, Hadfield, Wells.
Subs:
Chambers, Scott, Tomlinson, Issott, Corrigan, Pride, Pembleton.
Chambers, Scott, Tomlinson, Issott, Corrigan, Pride, Pembleton.
Belper Town:
Richmond, Adams, McGee, O'Hare, Hannigan, Camm, Fedorenko, Smith, Froggatt, Morris, Ortuno.
Subs:
Muczyczka, Rushbury, Graham, Thorpe, Francis D, Francis K.
Muczyczka, Rushbury, Graham, Thorpe, Francis D, Francis K.
Kama Sutra position of the dayTruth be told, even with Mrs Annie Knight in attendance tonight, with her stunning new look ... Retford United v Belper Town wasn't exactly the most aesthetically pleasing, easy on the eye viewing I have seen on a football pitch for a while.
In fact, it was a downright scrappy affair at times.
In fact, it was a downright scrappy affair at times.
I say old chap, let me help you to your feet.But that won't bother Retford United too much, as they kept an impressive sequence of pre season results going.
Both sides were guilty of firing a few blanks up front and firing long range efforts into the car park, or onto the training pitch behind the goal furthest away from the ground entrance on Leverton Road ... there wasn't much to choose between tonight's teams and that probably says more about the home sides tenacity, than the quality of some of Belper's more experienced players.
Both sides were guilty of firing a few blanks up front and firing long range efforts into the car park, or onto the training pitch behind the goal furthest away from the ground entrance on Leverton Road ... there wasn't much to choose between tonight's teams and that probably says more about the home sides tenacity, than the quality of some of Belper's more experienced players.
Watch us wreck the mic ..Lee Morris, Belper's journeyman forward seems to be a yard slower than he once was, but his tumbling to the floor with United's Corey Nightingale, led to a brief flurry of entertainment during a fairly dull first half, which broke the monotony up a bit.
But don't let my photo montage kid you that it was anything more than a few moments of posturing and chest puffing.
The incident died out as quickly as it flared up and was easily dealt with by the officials.
But don't let my photo montage kid you that it was anything more than a few moments of posturing and chest puffing.
The incident died out as quickly as it flared up and was easily dealt with by the officials.
Watch us wreck the mic ...The Badgers number 14, second half substitute Adam Scott (who didn't actually have a shirt number on his back at all), netted the only goal of the game, with a firmly struck penalty that he drilled past Andy Richmond on the hour.
Watch us wreck the mic ... Psyche!Though technically, Retford United should've been in the same league as Belper Town this season, their voluntary relegation into the NCEL and complete team rebuild, meant that the visitors ought to have been favourites to win this game ... but the Badgers weren't found wanting against their Evo-Stik South guests and if nothing else, in an often niggardly and rarely flowing game of football, they showed that they could stand toe to toe against higher league opposition and tuck in to grind out results if need be.
Over the course of a season, there will always be matches where the result warrants a horses for courses display or two, so while Retford have shown thus far this pre season that they can pass the ball around, it will be encouraging for their followers that they have reserves of dogged resistance to fall back on too when the need arises.
Over the course of a season, there will always be matches where the result warrants a horses for courses display or two, so while Retford have shown thus far this pre season that they can pass the ball around, it will be encouraging for their followers that they have reserves of dogged resistance to fall back on too when the need arises.
That said, there are some very good teams in the NCEL Premier Division this term and it is going to be ultra competitive.
If I was a betting man, I would personally have a few quid on Staveley Miners Welfare to be there (or thereabouts), but I'm not a frivolous gambler ... don't let that stop you backing the North Derbyshire side though.
Tomorrow, I'm actually watching Staveley MW at Frickley Athletic, in what should be a good work out for both teams.
If I was a betting man, I would personally have a few quid on Staveley Miners Welfare to be there (or thereabouts), but I'm not a frivolous gambler ... don't let that stop you backing the North Derbyshire side though.
Tomorrow, I'm actually watching Staveley MW at Frickley Athletic, in what should be a good work out for both teams.
Taking into account the nature of United's relegation into the NCEL this season as a financially precautionary measure, I'm not sure what they'll do as regards moving back into the Evo-Stik league if they win promotion this season (it's far to early to be using the p word anyway), but if they can keep the winning habit going and Brett Marshall continues to instil self belief into his players, it might be a scenario that will need some serious thought in the near future.
Along with Frickley Athletic's manager Peter Rinkcavage, THE66POW now sponsors Retford United's Chris Baugh too.I get a lot of pleasure out of local non league football, so it's nice to be in a position to put a bit back in too these days ... there is still one other local club who will be benefiting from my boundless generosity before the season starts, but I'll announce who that is in due course, let's just say they're a Bassetlaw based club who play in orange and black.
It was great to spend tonight's game in the company of David Dexter, one of the nicest guys I know in the whole world. See you again soon mate.
Money to money ;-) Half time raffle winner.Lord Dexter of Rhodesia - a living legend
