Thursday 23rd August, at Cannon ParkPre Season Friendly
Retford United U19 (6) 13
Luke Walker 1, 4, 50, 52
Shaun Nesbitt 3, 37
Bobby Johnson 17, 29, 79, 86
Reece Thomson 77, 85 (pen), 89
Maltby Main U19 (0) 1
Jack Booth 65
Admission: free.
Adam Scott:
Prolific 1st team goal scorer, Under 19's assistant manager
... and occasional linesman
... and occasional linesman
Retford had been scheduled to play Pontefract Colleries U19's tonight, but the West Yorkshire side pulled out of that arrangement around lunch time, because they were unable to raise enough players to travel to Cannon Park.
Maltby Main, to their immense credit, stood in at short notice and had approximately 2 hours to put a side together.
So the visitors starting eleven that took to the pitch tonight, was some way short of resembling their first choice team.
But give them their due, even when the goals started crashing in around their ears, they kept their discipline, didn't let their heads drop and despite the fact that they were obviously getting over run by a much stronger team with some very good players amongst their ranks (inc. Bobby Johnson and Reece Thomson ... it's good to see both of them back in United's colours), worked very hard.
The scoreline might suggest otherwise -but that's the way it was.
It was good to catch up with Maltby Main's secretary John Mills tonight, one of the unsung heroes of local football (like Simon Stones at Harworth, Annie & Jon Knight at Retford United, Ele Reaney at Staveley and Kev Newton & Keith Parnill at Teversal ... plus others) who seldom get the recognition they deserve for the unrelenting amount of time and personal sacrifice they put in for their respective clubs.
For what it's worth (possibly not very much in real terms), I appreciate the job they're all doing.
Maltby Main, to their immense credit, stood in at short notice and had approximately 2 hours to put a side together.
So the visitors starting eleven that took to the pitch tonight, was some way short of resembling their first choice team.
But give them their due, even when the goals started crashing in around their ears, they kept their discipline, didn't let their heads drop and despite the fact that they were obviously getting over run by a much stronger team with some very good players amongst their ranks (inc. Bobby Johnson and Reece Thomson ... it's good to see both of them back in United's colours), worked very hard.The scoreline might suggest otherwise -but that's the way it was.
It was good to catch up with Maltby Main's secretary John Mills tonight, one of the unsung heroes of local football (like Simon Stones at Harworth, Annie & Jon Knight at Retford United, Ele Reaney at Staveley and Kev Newton & Keith Parnill at Teversal ... plus others) who seldom get the recognition they deserve for the unrelenting amount of time and personal sacrifice they put in for their respective clubs.
For what it's worth (possibly not very much in real terms), I appreciate the job they're all doing.
Alex 'Ticker' Tittcomb:
Missed a sitter when he headed over after half an hour ;-)
Missed a sitter when he headed over after half an hour ;-)
As for the game there's probably not much that can be said by me, that the result doesn't already say.
Retford got the chance to give what is, just about, their strongest side, a good run out together tonight before the season starts ... and John Mills and Co. showed what local non league camaraderie is all about, when they stepped into the breach at the 11th hour.
Jack Booth's 65th minute strike for Maltby was an absolute belter, but I'm not going to describe all of Retford's goals, owing the constraints of time n' all that.
Retford got the chance to give what is, just about, their strongest side, a good run out together tonight before the season starts ... and John Mills and Co. showed what local non league camaraderie is all about, when they stepped into the breach at the 11th hour.
Jack Booth's 65th minute strike for Maltby was an absolute belter, but I'm not going to describe all of Retford's goals, owing the constraints of time n' all that.
