Retford United 6-1 Carlton Town B (Central Midlands League Floodlit Cup Round One) 06.10.21

A dominant, first-half display from Liam Kay’s charges fired the Badgers into the Second Round of the Floodlit League Cup on Wednesday night, as Igor Mlynarski put on a masterclass.

Scoring once, the opener, and creating two more, Mlynarski certainly showed his class against a demoralised, Carton Town B side, who found themselves 5-1 down at the interval.

The opening goal could have arrived much sooner than it did,, Stuart Ludlam having the first really chance of the game, his effort hitting the bar after just three minutes; home fans didn’t have to wait too long for the opener though, and afterwards, the floodgates opened.

Taking on the Carlton defence, just after ten minutes, Mlynarski found himself with enough space to open the scoring when unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top, right-hand corner before, two minutes later, the lead was doubled after Mlynarski proved being a constant thorn pays dividends, his run leading to a cross that saw Aaron Fell, on the half volley, fire home the second.

It would be close to seven minutes elapsing before number three was registered, and again Mlynarski would prove instrumental, this time turning provider for Mark West to find the net, smashing home the third just past the twenty-minute mark, with Dean Conway being denied moments later – the visiting goal leading a very charmed life.

On the half hour, the visitors, showing some gusto and fight, would pull a goal back, via Haynes’ direct free-kick, but their joy was short-lived when Conway finally got his goal, notching number four with ten minutes of the first half remaining.

There was still time for more, there always is, isn’t there?

The first-half demolition was completed when, five minutes before the break, Fell would be seen to grab his second, and the Badgers’ fifth of the game, Kay’s charges heading in 5-1 to the good at the interval.

As much as the first half was action-packed, the second would be the polar opposite, and quiet, although an inspired substitution with twenty minutes to go, lit up the closing stages.

Punctuated by a sixth Badgers goal, and it could have easily been more, Kay had brought on the recently returning Lee Thompson for the inspirational Mlynarski, and within seven minutes of being on the pitch had notched, coming close to registering a brace of himself late on.

Just under fifteen minutes were left on the clock when Thompson added the gloss on a dominant performance with the hosts’ sixth, and in the closing minutes the same could have added a seventh, but was flagged offside.

It mattered not however, the Cannon Park faithful celebrating progressing to the second round of the Floodlit Cup in style, Mlynarski-style.

Next up for Liam Kay’s side, the first of two away days as they travel to Collingham on Saturday (9 October), followed by a trip to Glapwell a week late (16 October), before returning to Cannon Park, on Wednesday 20 October, for the visit of Kiveton Miners Welfare.

Retford United: Tom Crosby, Jay Paling, Tom Brook, Daniel Abdulla, Stuart Ludlam, Aaron Fell, Igor Mlynarski (Lee Thompson 69), Brandon Kane, Liam Greenfield (Mason Barlow 58), Mark West (Kosi Nwobi 58), Dean Conway.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @RetfordUnited Igor Mlynarski celebrates his goal in a dominant display.