CMFL Floodlit Cup Second Round
at Cannon Park
Retford United (1) 1
Leon Osbourne 14
Collingham (0) 2
Chris Self 52, George Asplin 62
Admission £4. Programme £1.50
Floodlit Cup holders Collingham returned to Cannon Park, the scene of their Cup Final win over Teversal Reserves last season and moved into the third round courtesy of two second half set piece goals, after their hosts had gone ahead in the fourteenth minute, but failed to capitalise on their lead.
Both sides had chances early on, with George Asplin testing Liam Copley with well struck free kick from outside the area, that the Badgers keeper collected underneath his crossbar, while at the other end, Leon Osbourne worked his way into a good position before chipping the ball over Nathan Burrows, but onto the roof of the visitors net.
There was an element of good fortune about the opening goal, scored by United's Leon Osbourne, who didn't get a good connection when he shot from just outside the area and subsequently Burrows was wrong footed as the ball skidded along the ground before nestling in the bottom right hand corner; but, regardless of how the ball ended up in there, all goals count the same.
Jack Walters went close to doubling the Badgers lead and just before half time a long range dipping shot from out on the left flank, nestled on top of the goal.
HT: 1-0
Collingham were level seven minutes after the restart, when the Badgers capitulated collectively and failed to clear a long free kick into their area and the ball rolled back invitingly towards Chris Self, who netted from eight yards out.
The home side rallied briefly and Danny Abdulla's shot was deflected just past the right hand post. Jack Walters took the corner that was met by Cory Goodwin, but his header cleared the bar.
Liam Flint fouled Ryan Rushen twenty five yards out from the Retford goal, giving an opportunity for George Asplin to curl a free kick into the bottom left hand corner, past the un-sighted Copley.
If the game had ended all square tonight, it would have gone straight to penalties, but after the referee had allowed Jimmy Eyles to break into the visitors area, by applying a good advantage, Eyles went to ground over Jackson Buckthorpe's attempted challenge and was awarded a penalty that he took himself.
But the resulting spot kick was poor and void of any power or accuracy, as the Badgers number fourteen dragged his shot wide of the left hand post... game over!
Good luck to Paul Hyde and his Collingham side in the next round.
FT: Retford United 1 v Collingham 2
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| Some eye candy for the ladies |
Both of tonight's sides are in league action on Saturday, when Collingham head north to Askern, while the Badgers have a home game to look forward to, against Dronfield Town Reserves.
By way of a coincidence, fifth placed United and Collingham in sixth, both have thirteen points, which is some way off the running, behind Retford FC in second (20 points) and current leaders Clay Cross Town (27 points).
Of course, big game game that the local football fraternity is already talking about, is happening next month at Cannon Park, when United play Retford FC in the first ever competitive fixture between the two sides... that's on November 16th, which is a Friday night and it kicks off at 7.45PM, unless it gets delayed to give the inevitable influx of spectators more time to get in.
