Retford FC 0 v Handsworth Parramore 1 - NMU21L (North)

Wednesday 14th November 2018
at the Rail Ground
WVH North Midland U21 League (North)
Retford FC (0) 0
Handsworth Parramore (1) 1
Bailey Hobson 25
Admission £2. Programme 50p

The first ever game to be played under the new floodlights at the Rail Ground, saw the Choughs Under 21 side take on league leaders Handsworth Parramore; who just a fortnight ago, beat Retford by the odd goal in nine, when the two sides last met at Oliver's Mount.
Given the amount of goalmouth action, tonight's game could quite easily have ended up being another high scoring affair.
When the visitors took the lead in the twenty fifth minute, it would be fair to say that it had been coming, but a combination of stubborn resistance on the part of the young Choughs, and possibly a bit of luck along the way, limited the Ambers to just a solitary strike, when Bailey Hobson added the finishing touch to Leon Howarth's delivery into the six yard box.

Although they were definitely up against it tonight, as Handsworth swept forward relentlessly; several of the home players were making a mark in the game too, not least Nathan Reah, who showed some neat touches on the ball and Connor Paine, who battled gamely for the Choughs.
But in the main, it was still the South Yorkshire side who were the most threatening side going forward, especially in the first half... and it looked as though Harry Bamforth was going to double their lead, but his thunderbolt of a free kick from thirty five yards out, crashed against the bar, with such ferocity that it'll probably still be shaking at the weekend.
Just before the interval, Howarth used his considerable upper body strength, to get into a good position and played the ball across the face of Retford's goal into the path of Hobson, who shot against the crossbar.

However, having survived the visitors first half pressing game, Retford almost drew level in stoppage time, when Shay Evans-Booth, tested Spencer Bingley, with a well struck half volley on the turn from the edge of the area, that drew a good save from the visitors keeper.
The second half was far more evenly matched and there were times when it looked as though Handsworth might yet live to regret not bagging a few more of the opportunities they had created before Hobson actually broke the deadlock.
Having not seen a team sheet for either side tonight, I'll apologise if I get any of the players details wrong in advance, but by using a process of elimination and guesstimating who was who from the numberless lists on the back of the programme, I might have just about got away with winging it tonight.

Kris Scott impressed for Retford in the second half, initially combing with Evans-Booth through the right channel, before Ethan Hobson, who himself played very well at the back for the Ambers, put in a blocking tackle at the expense of a corner.
It was Scott who almost released Evans-Booth on the edge of the visitors area, with a great knock along the ground from inside his own half, but Tinotenda Dosvora, sprinted across the Retford striker's path and nicked the ball away.
Louis Colley was adding a bit of muscle to the hosts midfield, but had to retire to the bench in the final minute, redefining the words 'walking wounded' having taken several hefty knocks for the team's cause.

Retford's Jeannio Joby added some fresh legs, pace and firepower to proceedings after coming on from the bench and besides going close twice himself, he cut a swathe through the Ambers defence on the right and when his cross was only half cleared, Evans-Booth clipped the ball just over the goal, with a crisply struck shot.
But Handsworth still had plenty in reserve, with the indefatigable Bamforth looking a class act in the middle of the park, even after playing a full ninety minutes for Rossington Main's first team last night.

Of course, I should also heap praise on the Ambers number eleven, Leon Howarth, who was tearing around like a muscular Tasmanian Devil all night (that is actually a compliment, in case you were wondering) and seems to be developing a telepathic link with goalscorer Bradley Hobson.
As for Retford, there were plenty of plus points to take out of this performance, especially the longer that the game went on, and there is no shame whatsoever in losing to such a narrow scoreline, against a side of Handsworth's undoubted calibre.
Both sides are definitely worth checking out again as the season progresses.
FT: Retford FC 0 v Handsworth Parramore 1

Next week, Retford U21's travel to Stocksbridge on Wednesday night, to take on Sheffield United in a league fixture, while the Ambers head down to Sandiacre Town for a cross divisional game, on Tuesday.