Thursday 23rd January 2020
WVH North Midland U21 League
at Cannon Park
Retford United (1) 2
George White 21,
Alex Bennett 87
Swallownest (0) 0
Last night's first team game at Cannon Park was abandoned after just five minutes, after a pea-souper smog descended on the area and decimated the local football calendar.
As I entered the ground tonight, the match officials were discussing the worsening conditions and it was touch and go whether this game would meet a similar fate, but as the first half progressed, the fog lifted and left everybody present alone for long enough to get this game finished.
Truth be told, I virtually spectated the opening exchanges in braille... that is to say, visibility wasn't very good. However, slowly but surely, the haze cleared, just in time for me to pick out George White, shooting the Badgers in front, when he tucked the ball away into the bottom right hand corner of the net, from just outside the penalty area. halfway through the first half.
All three sides; Retford United, Swallownest... and the match officials: Chris Ward, Dan Brown and Dan Tracey, deserve a lot of credit for putting on such a lively, entertaining and high tempo game, in what must have been very difficult circumstances at times, particularly during the opening fifteen and last five minutes.
The final outcome wasn't actually decided until three minutes before the end, when Alex Bennett surged forward through the left channel and lobbed the ball over the advancing 'Swall' keeper.
FT: Retford United U21 2 v Swallownest U21 0
Both of these teams are in action again on Thursday 30th January, when Swallownest host Borrowash Victoria and Retford United travel to second -placed Worsbrough Bridge... both games kick-off at 7.45PM. League leaders Handsworth FC consolidated their position at the top of the table tonight, with a 0-5 away win at Worksop Town, while across the other side of town, Retford FC lost by the odd goal in five against Borrowash Victoria.
