FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round
at the Rail Ground
Retford (0) 0
Frickley Athletic (2) 2
Nathan Murr 26
Joe Brook-Parkin 31
Attendance: 68
The visitors made a lively start, but the first two real chances of the night fell to Retford, when Yusef Denis fired inches wide of the upright, while Luke Adby was unlucky that the ball sat up unkindly in front of him at the last second, with just AJ Nota to beat, meaning he was unable to make a clean strike, as he cleared the cross bar with an improvised shot.
Will Lyon and Kian Goodall looked strong in defence, as they vied to keep a determined looking Frickley side at bay, but there was nothing that they, or the Choughs keeper Ethan Cowan could have done to prevent Nathan Murr from opening the score, when he unleashed a pile-driver of a shot into the back of the net from twenty six yards out in the twenty sixth minute.
Alex Lacko chased a loose ball forward towards the hosts area, but Cowan was alert to the situation and sprinted from his area, overtaking Usain Bolt en route, as he beat the Frickley number nine to the ball and cleared it away to safety.
Play switched to the other end again and despite the obvious qualities of tonight's visitors, with a little more ruthlessness in front of goal, Retford could have been going in level at half time, but Deniz rushed a shot, with the goal at his mercy and put the ball past the wrong side of the post, while Adrian Gashi scuffed a low bouncing shot straight into the arms of Nota, who'd spread himself well, from just a couple of feet in front of the visitors goal.
Omer Abdullaziz was getting forward down the left flank, as the Choughs looked to undo the South Elmsall side and find a way back into the game, while Stefan Pecha impressed, carrying out a similar left sided role for the visitors.
Joe Brook-Parkin had a great chance to score his second and Frickley's third goal of the night, but couldn't get his shot to dip enough and put his effort over the bar.
And as the visitors kept their high tempo going, Murr went on a mazy run across the edge og Retford's area, before being bought to an uncompromising and unsentimental halt in time honoured fashion. He drilled the resulting free kick, low and through the hosts defensive wall, but Cowan, who must've seen the ball very late, got down well to his left to turn it away.
The match referee Wayne Davenport, along with assistants: Danielle and Tom Knight (they're married y'know... my son went to their reception ,but I think my invite must've gone astray in the post), handled the game very well, kept things flowing and more than played their part in a very entertaining game.
Goodall had a header cleared off of the line from Harvey Rogers right wing corner.
The near miss served as a warning to the visitors and they took the game by the scruff of the neck towards the end, Carl Simpson motored towards the Choughs goal through the right channel, but his thunderous shot was blocked... the rebound could've gone just about anywhere, and a scramble akin to high speed pinball game ensued around the hosts penalty spot, until the ball found it's way out to Harrison Brooks, who crashed it against the bar from inside the D.
Frickley's diminutive second half substitute Will Smth, was full of running and gave his side some fresh legs and extra impetus up front, he almost finished the night with a goal to his name, when he battled for possession on the edge of the area, saw a half chance when the ball sat up for him and hit a snap shot against the foot of the left hand post.
The visitors ran the clock down playing keep ball towards the final whistle... and that, was that.
FT: Retford U18 0 v Frickley Athletic U18 2
Joe Brook-Parkin had a great chance to score his second and Frickley's third goal of the night, but couldn't get his shot to dip enough and put his effort over the bar.
And as the visitors kept their high tempo going, Murr went on a mazy run across the edge og Retford's area, before being bought to an uncompromising and unsentimental halt in time honoured fashion. He drilled the resulting free kick, low and through the hosts defensive wall, but Cowan, who must've seen the ball very late, got down well to his left to turn it away.
Goodall had a header cleared off of the line from Harvey Rogers right wing corner.
FT: Retford U18 0 v Frickley Athletic U18 2
Retford certainly had their moments, but Frickley were the better side all told and deserved to progress to the next round, where they will now face Emley AFC U18s, away from home, later this month.
