Retford 2 v Harworth Colliery 1 - NMU21L LC QF

Wednesday 12th December 2018

WVH North Midlands U21 League

League Cup Quarter Final

at the Rail Ground

Retford FC (0) 2

Nathan Reah 86

Jack Morrison 87 OG

Harworth Colliery (0) 1

Sol Williams 90+1

Admission £3

Programme 50p

Attendance 63

A lively and competitive encounter, contested in the spirit of goodly sporting ethos, was played out at the Rail Ground tonight, between two teams who are evidently both encouraged to keep the ball on the deck, while providing some eye-catching and entertaining, high tempo football.
Retford had the better of the first half (which, in truth is something of an understatement), but couldn't quite find the final touch to turn a good number of chances into goals, until very late in the game, when a a great long range strike from Nathan Reah put them ahead, as late as the eighty sixth minute, and ironically, it came just after Harworth had been enjoying what had been their best spell of possession of the whole game. 

The Choughs second goal, arrived fifty seconds later, and saw Callum Amendola's delivery from out on the left flank, find the back of Jamie Hooley's net via an unkind deflection, off of Jack Morrison, who was trying to make a last ditch clearance.
Sol Williams halved Colliery's deficit with a headed goal in stoppage time, but it was too late for the visitors to get back on level terms by then... as the hosts secured their place in the semi final.
Neither team are especially big hitters in their division this season, but development is the key... and they both play the right way and obviously have bags of potential to crank things up a gear next season.

Will Lyon seamlessly slotted into the Retford defence, on the occasion of his Under 21 team debut, having stepped up from  the clubs thriving Under 18 set up. Haydn Goddard, showed the sort of assured quality that has seen him experience first team  football... and credit where it's due to Callum Brookes too, who was the visitors engine room to the right of midfield, getting forward and trying to make life as difficult as possible for Goddard, as much as possible. He reminded me of a younger Jonny Bownes, though obviously much fitter and better at playing football than he ever was.

"Pizza delivery for a Mr Williams"

Robbie Collingburn, Nathan Reah, Callum Wilson and Jeanio Joby (the latter of who  was unplayable at times as the first half unfolded) all went close to scoring for the home side, as they put Harworth under the cosh towards half time.
The tactical substitutions made by Harworth during the second half, stemmed the tide of pressure they were under... and the introduction of the giant defender Dale Featherstone in an attacking role, was almost a game changer, and may well have yielded results had it not been for Adam Hicks bravery in goal for the hosts.

"You can't stand with us until you get one of these daft hats"

Being as diplomatic as is humanly possible, given that I have a foot in both camps (as per usual), whenever these two sides get together; I would say that: Retford merited their win and had far more of the play over the entirety of the ninety plus minutes; But the longer things went on and it remained goalless, there was always the chance that the visitors might nick a result, particularly as they grew into the game throughout the second half, but in the end, with all due respect to my many pals at Harworth; Rich Williams side deserved to progress all told.

FT: Retford 2 v Harworth Colliery 1