Retford United 0 v Hallam 1 - NMU19L

Thursday 14th March 2019
WVH North Midland U19 League
at Cannon Park
Retford United (0) 0
Hallam (1) 1
Zibusiso Sibanda 9

Apologies from the outset, for the crap and blurred quality of the pictures that I've used to break the boring text that I've used during this half-arsed attempt at compiling a match report of sorts.
My old Nokia phone doesn't have the best camera app in the world, so I'll just have to resort to offering you with a very poor excuse, about a woefully poor workman blaming his tools. There is the possibility that I might have spelled a name or two incorrectly too.
I promise to try harder in future.

Hallam started the night one place above their fifth placed hosts in the table... over whom they have opened up a nine point gap, by virtue of this slender win.
Levi Owen had already saved bravely at the feet of Zibusiso Sibanda, right at the start of the game, but their was nothing the Badgers keeper could've done to stop the same player from sliding the ball home off of the rebound, after Owen had pushed out Jake Thompson's close range header.
Lee Mason (or Mason Lee if I am to believe the official teamsheet) and Alfie Gaughan both had efforts on Hallam's goal, that weren't too far off of the target, but the ball cleared the bar and ended up in car park.

Masaai Dearlove was an imposing presence in attack for the visitors, who linked up well with Zibusiso, but the hosts captain, Liam Bennett, along with Carter Widdowson, did a decent job of keeping tabs on the Hallam duo..
Just before the break, Tom Kerry fizzed a shot just wide of the upright, which would've doubled Hallam's interval lead.
George White caught the eye for the Badgers operating on the right initially, before showing his versatility, when he was switched to theft, before ending up leading the United attack down the middle.

White came close to levelling the score, when he got his shot away from an angle, despite the close attentions of Axel Muhire, after a great knock forward from Mason, but Ollie Barnes got down quickly to hold onto the ball.
Thompson headed narrowly wide from Kerry's dipping cross into the Retford area, as Hallam finished on the front foot, and would most likely have won by a bigger margin had it not been for the efforts of Owen towards the end of the game.
FT: Retford United 0 v Hallam 1

Hallam still have two home fixtures remaining, against Dronfield Town on 21st March and Sheffield United on 4th April. Retford United's league campaign is now finished, but they are playing against Worksop Town in the league cup final on 11th April, at Staveley.
Well done to all concerned for getting tonight's game on, the pitch held up well, despite the persistent rain of the past few days.