Retford 7 v Hykeham Town 1 - PSF

Wednesday 3rd July 2019
Pre Season Friendly
at the Rail Ground
Retford FC (3) 7
Shay Evans-Booth 8, 10, 28, 62, 64
Adam Scott 54
Gaz Davies 81
Hykeham Town (1) 1
Elliot Dye 25

In which the recently crowned CMFL North champions, and subsequent NCEL Division One newcomers: Retford FC, welcomed newly formed Hykeham Town to the Rail Ground, for what was to be their first ever game.
Having heard that Darren Dye, Darren Stamp and Sam Wilkinson were managing this new Lincolnshire club, along with the decent calibre of some of the players they've tempted to come aboard with them, I was keen to check Hykeham out, as soon as possible... and though they shipped in seven goals, there were enough signs on display tonight to suggest that once they've found their feet and gelled as team, they've got the makings of a decent side.

The obligatory East Coast Mainline train picture

Retford have added further seating to their ever developing facilities since last season... and it will be interesting to monitor how they progress on the pitch this as they enter their inaugural campaign in step six non-league football.
The Choughs Under 21 player: Shay Evans-Booth (who actually plays in goal for his college team), stole the show tonight, helping himself to five goals

Having squeezed in Adam Scott's left wing delivery at the near post to open the scoring, Evans-Booth doubled the hosts lead, when Scott's blistering shot was saved, but rebounded straight to the goal hungry number ten, who completed his hat-trick in the twenty eighth minute, having struck the ball against the foot of the right hand post just moments earlier.

But prior to his third goal, at the other end, Adam Hicks had done well to make a penalty save, then Hykeham had pulled one back, when Elliot Dye claimed what was to be the first ever goal for the visiting side, with a strike from outside the area that bounced up deceptively in front Hicks, before nestling in the back of the net.

Scott went close to increasing Retford's lead shortly before half time, but his effort from six yards narrowly cleared the visitors bar.

Ash McEwan looked odds on to add another goal to the home sides tally early in the second half, but the ball bounced back into play off of the inside of the post, which allowed Hykeham to clear their lines.

But it was only a temporary respite, as Scott picked up the ball thirty five yards out and motored forward, before picking his spot and calmly slotting home Retford's fourth goal.

Hykeham, to their credit, kept plucking away and were close to reducing the arrears several times during the second half, but their resistance was undone when Evans-Booth showed his Midas touch again, twice, just after the hour... and with a little under ten minutes remaining, Gaz Davies finished emphatically from the left hand edge of the visitors area, to net Retford's seventh.

FT: Retford 7 v Hykeham Town 1

The Choughs have an interesting roster of pre-season games lined up following tonight's game against: Retford United (A) on Saturday 13th July, a Gainsborough Trinity XI (H) on Wednesday 17th July, Collingham (A) on Saturday 20th July, Harworth Colliery (H) on Tuesday 23rd July, Renishaw Rangers (A) on Saturday 27th July, and finally: Lincoln United (H) on Wednesday 31st July.

Hykeham Town's remaining friendlies consist of: Bottesford Town (H) on Saturday 6th July, Boston Town (A) on the Thursday 11th July, Brigg Town (H) on Saturday 13th July, Sleaford Town (A) Wednesday 17th July, and finally, Newark Town (A) on Wednesday 24th July.