Retford United U19 5 v Hallam U19 1 - NMU19L Div 1

Thursday 7th February 2013,
at the Jones & Co. Solicitors Stadium (AKA Cannon Park)
North Midland U19 League Division 1
Retford United (0) 5 
Reece Thompson 51, 83, 
Sam Hutchinson 57,
Sam Downey 63,
Bobby Johnson 75 , 83
Hallam (1) 1
Ryan Ruddiforth 4
Admission £2, Programme £1, Attendance 58

Retford United U19
Rory McCracken, Bradley Capsticks, Jason Swannack, Sam Downey (Kyle Blow 75 mins), Brett Lucas (c), Kyle Dennett, Adam Ellis (Jack Munn 63 mins), Bobby Johnson, Alex Colton, Reece Thompson (Josh Sharpe 83 mins), Sam Hutchinson
Unused Subs: - Alex Tittcomb, Ryan Hall
Hallam U19
Kurt Price, Danny Thickett, Evan Watson, Tom Bird (c), Paul Carr, Jack Hague, Ryan Ruddiforth, Harley Wilson, Ryan Carroll, Alix Ward, James Binney
Subs - Callum Hartfield, Nick Harrison, Chris Smith
THE66POW Man of the match - Kyle Dennett

Hallam, who recently gave Division 1 title chasers Handsworth a 6-2 thrashing, caught Retford on the hop, from the outset, when Ryan Ruddiforth put them ahead inside the first five minutes, with a free header, after Evan Watson had swung the ball over to the back stick, having escaped the Badgers defences attentions.
Adam Ellis almost equalised, but the ball sat up awkwardly at the last moment and Alex Colton had the same problem shortly afterwards.
If only the snow storm, that had taken the People's Republic of East Retford by surprise this week, had abated and let Steve the groundsman have a chance to roll the pitch prior to the game, United could've been in front.
But in fairness to Hallam, their first half lead was well deserved and they nearly went in at the break two goals to the good, but Rory McCracken pulled off a great save to keep Ryan Carroll's goal bound effort out.

On 51 minutes, Reece Thompson showed his marker a clean pair of heels and burst into the Hallam box at speed, before slotting the ball under Kurt Price, who had run from his line to narrow the angle.
Sam Hutchinson, who is fast becoming a regular 'goal machine' for Retford, shot the home side ahead from close range six minutes later, after Adam Ellis had provided the ammunition with a defence splitting right wing cross.
At the other end, Ryan Ruddiforth experienced the same kind of unkind bounce that Retford had in the first half and he shot wide when an equaliser looked to be on the cards.
Hallam will have been ruing the miss, because Retford went straight straight down the other end and Sam Downey got their third goal from a Reece Thompson cross.

Referee Paul Matthewson pulled up and had to be replaced by his assistant Matthew Tyers after 63 minutes of the game.

Unfortunately, the referee Paul Matthewson pulled up, having tweaked his calf and the players were taken in from the cold for 15 minutes while the officials regrouped. Assistant Matt Tyers took over as referee and one of the Retford players dads, Simon Hall, ran the line for the remainder of the game.
After the restart, with Retford now completely in control of the second half, Alex Colton linked up with Reece Thompson, who teed up Bobby Johnson to add the Badgers fourth of the night.
Reece Thompson helped himself to United's fifth goal, bringing Alex Colton's slightly miss hit cross under control in the air and twisting to score with his second touch.
It was a quality strike that confirmed Retford United as the new leaders of the NMU19L 1st Division.

Unless my old aged recollection faculties are failing me, I do believe that this is the first time ever that Retford United have ever been at the top of Division 1.

Second placed Sheffield are set to visit third placed Staveley on Monday, though what effect the recent player upheavals at Inkersall Road will have on the remainder of Staveley's season, still remains to be seen. Though, it must be said, Retford United are at the top of the table on merit now, through their own efforts.
I've given Kyle Dennett my man of the match, though Sam Hutchinson ran him very close, along with Reece Thompson and Bobby Johnson. Thompson's second goal was something special too.
Full time - Retford United U19 5 v Hallam U19 1
A game of two halves, if ever there was one.
OK! Smart arses, I know most games are two halves long, you know what I meant.

For the benefit of those of you who were wondering why a helicopter was circling over the Retford United v Hallam Under 19's game tonight ... it was the fashion police attending the scene of two very serious crimes ;-)

Below. 'Our Sandra', she's always on hand, with her cheery demeanour and happy persona, welcoming visitors to the Jones & Co. Solicitors Stadium (AKA Cannon Park) and providing them with a vast array of competitively priced, top quality food and drink.
Oh ... and she's fifty next month, but you never heard that from me.