Retford United 3 v Newark Town 3 - CMFL Floodlit Cup R1 - RUFC won 6-5 on pens

Tuesday 25th September 2019
CMFL Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup First Round
at Cannon Park
Retford United (3) 3
Lewis King 12 OG
Brandon Kane 15
Zach Casburn 38
Newark Town (3) 3
Lewis Chambers 1 pen, 35 pen
Kieran Job  23
Attendance: 112
Retford United won 6-5 on penalties

You couldn't take your eyes of of this one for a moment, or you'd have been bound to have missed something happening... especially during an opening forty five minutes, that left me feeling quite dizzy with giddiness.
Unbeaten CMFL North league leaders Newark Town, opened the scoring inside the opening minute, when the match referee: Phil Roberts, decreed that a Carl Reade challenge, that was more mistimed than malicious, warranted the award of a penalty kick to the visitors.
Lewis Chambers stepped forward and made no mistake with a well struck spot kick... and Newark almost doubled their lead soon afterwards, when Steve Carty broke free and crashed a shot against the foot of the right hand upright.

Initially it looked as though it was going to be a long old slog of a night for the Badgers faithful, following Newark's lively start, but against the expectations of even the most optimistic of United's supporters, their side had overturned their deficit and were actually in front after fifteen minutes, after Lewis King had sliced a Jack Varley delivery past his own keeper, Craig Rhodes to restore parity, before Brandon Kane gave the hosts the lead, from a sublimely struck long range free kick, into the top right hand corner of Rhodes' net... you don't stop them!

An end to end battle, akin to a high tempo free for all, developed as the first half unfolded and the scores were level again in the twenty third minute, as George Asplin motored forward down the right flank, before cutting in and drilling a shot/cross across the face of Kieran Conway's goal, that Kieran Job nudged over the line from close range.

Waldorf and Staler have entered the building

Carl Reade and Danny Abdula both appeared to have to have pierced the visitors rearguard during some frantic goalmouth action, following a right wing corner for the hosts, but the referee had spotted a foul amongst the flailing limbs inside the six yard box... and awarded a free kick to Newark.
Retford stretched the visitors defence to the limit, as Rhodes tipped Jack Varley's dipping effort away from his goal, while Ricky North was on hand to clear Zach Casburn's header off of the goal-line.
Play switched ends quickly and Jacob Dawson was penalised as Asplin went to ground under a challenge in the Retford goal area... and once again, Chambers fired the visitors in front from the penalty spot.
But within three minutes, the game was level pegging again, when Casburn got a decisive touch as a tussle for the ball and more mayhem ensued inside the Newark six yard box.

After such a high scoring opening forty five minutes, we joked that a goalless second half often follows such a goal-fest of a first half... Hmm, there's many a true word spoken in jest. However, although neither side weredestined  to find the net again, until the game was decided on penalties after the scheduled ninety minutes had elapsed, it wasn't for a lack of trying, on either side's part.
Craig Bridge, the visitors captain, dribbled into the hosts area, made himself room for a shot and struck the ball well, but Conway got down well to his left and tipped the ball around the post.
Kane, who was putting in a hell of a shift, went close to scoring again, when another long range strike was deflected over Rhodes' crossbar.
I think it would be fair to say, given these two sides respective starts to the current campaign, that Newark were probably the favourites to win this game, but I was impressed by the way that the home side kept a tight rein on their illustrious opponents during the second half.

For sure, there were still a good number of chances created, at both ends, but the visitors invitation to take the game to Retford, and the privilege of being granted a 'right to roam', seemed to have been invoked during the half time team talk.
Casburn and Igor Mlynarski, both cleared the crossbar with efforts from the edge of the Newark area, while Jack Walters strike off the rebound, after Rhodes had pushed Varley's initial shot away, was ruled out because the linesman's flag had signalled that a Retford player was offside in the build up.
Conway denied the visitors again, taking the sting out of a thumping shot from Asplin, while Reade was on hand to hook the ball away to safety from virtually under the crossbar.
Chambers had a great chance to nick a fourth goal for the visitors, when Bridge released him with a well weighted through ball, but Ollie Lawrence spotted the danger and got across quickly to make a last ditch challenge.

Cory Goodwin finished his shift delivering kebabs for the Charcoal Grill, in Cannon Square and entered the fray from the bench late in the game, he won the ball in midfield and switched play from right to left, creating an opening for the hosts, that culminated in Varley testing Rhodes, but the visitors keeper held onto the ball well.

The last five minutes of the game (plus stoppage time) morphed into 'The Keiran Conway Show', as he pulled off three excellent saves to keep Newark at bay, acrobatically tipping free kicks from Bridge and Asplin over his bar, before pushing away Asplins's angled drive around the post at full stretch in stoppage time.

The last action of the game saw Rhodes charging from his line to narrowly beat Varley in a chase for the ball just outside his area.

FT: Retford United 3 v Newark Town 3

Passage to the next round of the Floodlit Cup was to be decided by means of a penalty shoot-out, sans any extra-time.

Mark West struck the opening kick firmly enough, but Rhodes pulled off a save to give Newark a great start, especially when Carty drilled the visitors ahead from their first effort.

Ryan Smith emphatically buried United's second kick, but Ricky North maintained the visitors advantage with an assured finish.

Both captains: Tom Brook and Bridge netted successfully, as did Goodwin and Chambers, who'd already had plenty of practice tonight.

Kane smashed the Badgers fourth kick past Rhodes, but if Asplin was to find the net, it would be 'game over' now. 

But  Conway was having none of it and he pulled off a dramatic save, to level up the shoot out at four goals apiece. Meaning that 'instant death' would now determine the outcome of a contest, in which it was a shame that one of these sides would finish the game empty handed.

Jack Walters put the Badgers ahead, but Ben Castell scored from the next kick and it was all square again.

Ollie Lawrence stepped forward and planted the ball to Rhodes' left, to give Retford the advantage again. Up stepped Tyler Martin, who struck his effort cleanly, low and on target, but Conway was down on it in an instant and smothered the ball, to win the night for United, at the end of what was a pulsating and enthralling contest.

Retford United won 6-5 on penalties

There is another game at Cannon Park tomorrow night, when United's U21 side entertain Retford FC U21s in a North Midland U21 League game.

The Badgers first team travel to Collingham on Saturday for a CMFL North fixture, while Newark Town will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of the same league, when they face Sutton Rovers at the YMCA Activity Village ground, that they recently moved into.