CMFL North
at Cannon Park
Retford United (0) 1
Jimmy Eyles 68
Retford FC (1) 1
Will Tomlinson 39 pen
Admission £4
Programme £1.50
Attendance 859
I would have thought that such a phenomenal turnout, must surely constitute a record attendance for the Central Midlands League.
Either way, it certainly goes to show that their is definitely an appetite for Friday night non-league football in the area.
'Twas a most excellent game... and occasion. The visitors shaded things in the first half, while United had the better of the second, but besides those percentages both teams had chances to force the issue throughout But it would be fair to say that a draw proved to be a very fair outcome to this lively encounter.
Ably assisted by Retford's very own celebrity match officials couple, Danielle and Tom Knight, who both had a decent game, the match referee: Rob Pealing tried his best to let things flow while taking into account the passionate rivalry that existed between these two teams out on the field of play; but, without wanting to sound too critical, he did perhaps redefine the word leniency at times and there were a few 'tetchy' moments just before half time, where you could've been forgiven for wondering if he'd forgotten to take his cards out onto the pitch with him. But hey! What the feckin' hell do I know about refereeing a game of Association Football!?
Ably assisted by Retford's very own celebrity match officials couple, Danielle and Tom Knight, who both had a decent game, the match referee: Rob Pealing tried his best to let things flow while taking into account the passionate rivalry that existed between these two teams out on the field of play; but, without wanting to sound too critical, he did perhaps redefine the word leniency at times and there were a few 'tetchy' moments just before half time, where you could've been forgiven for wondering if he'd forgotten to take his cards out onto the pitch with him. But hey! What the feckin' hell do I know about refereeing a game of Association Football!?
The first half chance fell to the visitors; after Ryan Smith had fouled Adam Scott on the right flank and Jack Johnson's free kick into the heart of the Badgers defence, was steered towards the goal via Will Tomlinson's heel, but United scrambled the ball away to safety.
Scott was involved again, when he pounced to take advantage of a moment of hesitancy, but Liam Copley was alert to the danger and moved quickly from his line to gather the ball.
Tomlinson glided gossamer like across the pristine Cannon Park surface, on a solo jog towards Copley's goal; but he clipped the ball a fraction over the bar... and moments later Scott also shot over, when a ball into the box by Gaz Davies was only half cleared into his path.
Having weathered a spell of Retford pressure, United began to assert themselves on the game slightly better, and Cory Goodwin went close to adding the finishing touch to Jimmy Eyles' cut back, after he'd carried the ball forward to the bi-line. Brandon Kane tried to catch Jon Kennedy out with a long range shot, that fizzed just past the post and Tom Brooks let fly from twenty five yards, but his effort proved to be more of a danger to passing traffic on Leverton Road, than it did the Choughs goal.
The deadlock was broken six minutes before half time, when Tomlinson slammed a penalty kick emphatically into the roof of the net, after Joe McGuinness had fouled Scott as he broke into the right hand side of United's area.
McGuinness went close to levelling things up just before the break, but he didn't make quite enough contact as he tried to get his head onto Goodwin's right wing delivery and the visitors took their solitary goal lead into the interval.
HT: Badgers 0 v Choughs 1
While the Badgers kept trying to chip away at the hard working Choughs rearguard, the visitors went close when Johnson nudged a pass from Ollie Bilham just wide and moments later, Retford's substitutes: Arron Blakey and Jeanio Joby, who'd been brought on to inject some pace and fresh legs into the attack, countered at speed and when Blakey unselfishly laid the ball sideways to Joby by the left hand post,the ball bounced a fraction too high for the youngster and he hooked it just past the post.
Scott was involved again, when he pounced to take advantage of a moment of hesitancy, but Liam Copley was alert to the danger and moved quickly from his line to gather the ball.
Tomlinson glided gossamer like across the pristine Cannon Park surface, on a solo jog towards Copley's goal; but he clipped the ball a fraction over the bar... and moments later Scott also shot over, when a ball into the box by Gaz Davies was only half cleared into his path.
The deadlock was broken six minutes before half time, when Tomlinson slammed a penalty kick emphatically into the roof of the net, after Joe McGuinness had fouled Scott as he broke into the right hand side of United's area.
HT: Badgers 0 v Choughs 1
Jack Walters introduction from the bench at half time, gave the Badgers more options in the attacking third, but as he threaded a pass through to Ryan Smith, that had appeared to open up the visitors defence, Jason Swannack moved across quickly to nick the ball away. Incidentally, tonight marked Swannack's one hundredth appearance in the colours of Retford FC, so congratulations on reaching that milestone young Swanny... and happy birthday for Monday too.
Haydn Goddard picked out Tomlinson on the edge of the area with a right wing delivery, who in turn rolled the ball back towards Davies, who shot high and wide.
Haydn Goddard picked out Tomlinson on the edge of the area with a right wing delivery, who in turn rolled the ball back towards Davies, who shot high and wide.
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| Cannon Park's close proximity to Rampton Hospital means that the floodlights attract all manner of people |
But it was the home side who were getting forward more often now and amid a frantic scramble inside the Choughs area, Eyles got a decisive and clinical touch to direct the ball past Kennedy and even up the score.
United put a lot of crosses into their neighbours goalmouth, but Kennedy was equal to any aerial threat posed by the home side.
As full time approached, Walters picked up the ball inside his own half and motored forward, in a bid to create what would surely be the last goal scoring opportunity of the game, his route towards the visitors area was clear and Kennedy was going to have to commit himself to charging from his area, so the scene was set... albeit briefly!
Jack Johnson, realising how the situation was unfolding, took one for the team and was shown a yellow card for scything Walters down, thus breaking the move down and allowing his teammates to reorganise themselves and get back. Some might call it cheating, but I'd say it was the only option available and the right decision.
And that was that!
FT: Retford United 1 v Retford FC 1
I'm already looking forward to the reverse fixture, when these two sides meet at the Rail Ground on Friday 15th March 2019.
Jack Johnson, realising how the situation was unfolding, took one for the team and was shown a yellow card for scything Walters down, thus breaking the move down and allowing his teammates to reorganise themselves and get back. Some might call it cheating, but I'd say it was the only option available and the right decision.
And that was that!
FT: Retford United 1 v Retford FC 1
I'm already looking forward to the reverse fixture, when these two sides meet at the Rail Ground on Friday 15th March 2019.
Both sides did the people's republic of East Retford proud tonight as I'm sure that anybody present as part of tonight's massive attendance would testify.
The second placed Choughs and third placed Badgers, will both now have to keep their heads down and grind out the results, while hoping that runaway league leaders Clay Cross Town slip up at some point.
It's great to see football in the locality has a smile back on it's collective face and that the CMFL (North) is such a competitive division this term.
Next Saturday, Retford travel to the aforementioned Clay Cross Town, while United head in the opposite direction for an away game at Collingham. It's all go, innit!?
Next Saturday, Retford travel to the aforementioned Clay Cross Town, while United head in the opposite direction for an away game at Collingham. It's all go, innit!?
