This game appealled for a few reasons. Firstly despite living in Retford for 30 years i had never seen a match on this pitch, the half one KO allowed me to be back to watch most of Soccer Saturday, thirdly it was a cheap day out, and lastly it was a County competition
Retford Town play in the Doncaster senior league and are currently in third place with games in hand on the clubs above them. Todays opponents Awsworth play in the Nottinghamshire senior league (NSL.) They were relegated from the premier divison last season by just one point (thus giving up their place in the Notts senior cup as well). In division one this year they are scoring for fun having hit goals twice and 7 goals once in the last few weeks. To reach this stage of the cup Retford had seen off Arnold Town Reserves and Trident FC (3-0 and 5-1 respectively) where as Awsworth have had a slightly tougher time beating Wollaton Res 4-5 on penalties and Nottinghamshire FC 3-1 in extra time.
We arrived at the ground about 10 mins before kick off.The first person we saw was a visiting offical that seemed suprised that Retford was in Nottinghamshire, i am sure some people in Nottingham and South Notts seem to think that Nottinghamshire finishes at Mansfield. Plus Awsworth is nearer to the Derbyshire border than we are to the Dump and barren lands of South Yorkshire. You would have thought the fact that Retfords other club United are holders of Nottinghamshires top knockout football competition would have been another clue.
Retford Towns Director of football casts his eye over his troops
Shortly after we had the pleasure of chatting to Retford Towns director of football Martin "buster" Keeton. I worked with buster at Jenkins for about 7 years. What he doesnt know about football in the Reford area isnt worth knowing.He told us about the plans that the club has to go foward with promotion to the CML being the target. Looking at the ground i would say there isnt that much that needs to be done to get it up to CML standard. Its certainly not far behind the Bulwell Towns of this world. The plans include getting a tea hut in place and to fence parts of the pitch off, but alas all this comes down to money and football at this level doesnt have much of it about.
Martin has been involved with the club for years and was the man who got Lincoln city to send down a Lincoln city X1 for a pre season friendly in the 1999-00 season at the clubs old ground on Babworth Road. He could also play a bit too. I remember when our 5-a-side team was starting off he sorted us a friendly out and he played for the opposition,in one move he skipped past Gav then blasted past me into the bottom corner! it must have been well over ten years ago but they all count!
Awsworth started much the better side, no doubt fired up by their manager shouting "come on lets have some noise from the sidelines" (there were about 4 people that travelled with the away side, in a crowd of at least 20).Much to their credit they played good football which from what i have seen/heard, is very rare in the NSL. Retford were thankful to their keeper for saving two 'one on ones' in the first twenty minutes as Retfords off side trap was breached all to often. The Ref seemed very much to be one of those "look at me types" although he was fair for both sides i thought. Awsworth continued to create chances but failed to score due to a combination of bad finishing and good goalkeeping.
Then after about 25 mins or so, as so often happens in football, Retford scored with their first attack of the game. That goal seemed to settle down the homeside who started to get on top and dominated the rest of the half.
HT 1-0
Awsworth were first out after the break and it was then we had one of the quotes of the season. one of the players said "come on if we come all this way and get beat we are going to look silly!"
Why? i am sure some people in South Notts think the NSL is the dogs bolloacks when it comes to non league football from what i have seen our old "up the field" crew would piss it in ths NSL. And all this way? its about 40 mins tops!
Retford seemed a different side in the second half and steamed into a three goal lead. The visitors were looking really silly now!
To their credit though they kept on playing good football and scored a good counter attacking goal to get it back to 3-1 then with their tails up, made it 3-2 and it was very much "game on" again.
Then we had the moment of the match. Retford had a free kick, and lumped it into the box, the Awsworth keeper under no pressure looked to us and the linesman to gather it but took it over the line. We had the best view of it in the ground and our impression was that it was over the line. The linesman saw it that way aswel and gave the goal straight away. This lead to the keeper totally losing it and launching a torrent of verbal abuse at the official. This went on for at least the next five minutes. The ref the booked the keeper and he was subbed shortly afterwards. If the ref had heard all of it i am sure the card would have been red. Credit to the Awsworth bench for removing the keeper and i am sure that the manager wasnt to impressed when he threw his top on the floor as he sat on the bench. Credit must also go to the other Villa players for getting on with it and trying to calm the keeper down.
The first thing the new keeper had to do was pick the ball out of the net as town made it 5-2. Villa pulled it back to 5-3 late on and thats how it stayed. I am glad it was a two goal winning margin so that "that goal" didnt decide it.
So Retford book their place in the quarter finals and, looking at the other sides in the competition, should fear nobody. I was back home to watch the scores come in as the Imps ground out a good away point at Crewe to stay 4 points ahead of the drop zone.
If you get a chance i would recommend a visit to Retford Town. I dont like to get into debates about whos league is best etc etc but if this is the standard of the NSL then Retford must be seen as one of the favourites to win the trophy.
Admission-free
Programme £1 very good lots of facts and stats although Buster really should have a page of his own!!
Match quality 8/10
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