at Jones & Co. Solicitors Stadium - Cannon Park
Pre Season Friendly
Retford United (0) 0
AFC Mansfield (1) 2
Matt Draper 6, Danny Naylor 88
Admission £5, Programme £1.50
Barford, Stannard (Sanderson), Snodin (Hassett), Walkden, Lucas, Johnson, Fisher (Aspinall), Thompson, Medcalf (Bibby), Holmes, Barker (Owens).
AFC Mansfield:
Sheppard, McLane, Tighe, Draper (Staniforth), Meehan, Buxton, McCann (Capuano), Naylor, Rick, Green (Haslam), Carter (Robinson ).
Unused sub: White
Not one for the squeamish, or faint hearted. But I enjoyed it.
The officials had to keep their eyes peeled all night, but they will also have benefitted from getting some pre-season minutes under their belts as well as the players. And in fairness to them, despite being on the receiving end of a lot of catcalls, histrionics and 'children denied sweeties' petulant outbursts, they got all of the decisions that mattered right.
Referee Declan Bourne must've wished he'd had some ear plugs with him tonight ... 'nuff said!?
The visitors took the lead early in the game, when United only half cleared a Danny Tighe corner as far as Mark Carter, who picked out Matt Draper with a cross from the left hand side of the box, that the Bulls captain knocked back across the face of the Retford goal with a looping header, that left the home sides keeper Jody Barford flat footed.
Obviously, AFC Mansfield have a good number of players who have already have played - and still could be playing - at NCEL Premier standard, so this wasn't exactly a giant killing.
But last season's CMFL North runners up, warranted their win on the overall balance of play tonight and deserved the two goal margin of victory that Danny Naylor's sublime and thunderous 25 yard drive, with two minutes of the game remaining afforded them.
FT - Retford United 0 v AFC Mansfield 2
Many thanks to Ian and Robin from the Retford United Supporters Club who tonight offered to sponsor Harworth Colliery FC's Simon Brewster for the 2013-14 season ... gratefully received, money well spent lads!
