Collingham 3-4 Retford United (Central Midlands League Premier Division North) 09.10.21
Station Road served up a seven-goal humdinger of a thriller in the Central Midlands League at the weekend as Liam Kay’s Badgers made the short, 23-mile trip, to neighbouring Collingham, managed by Gary Clark.
It was to be a back-and-forth derby affair which saw the hosts lead not once, not even twice, but three times, before losing it, literally, at the death, thanks Danny Abdulla’s header.
The opening goal landed inside the first minute, with both sides having registered inside the first five, thus setting the tone for what was to come; the Oaks opened the scoring when catching the Badgers napping from the off, Will Hollingsworth.
After just a couple of minutes however, the visitors were level, Igor Mlynarski, who else, supplied the cross for striker Mark West , who smashes home the equaliser at the back post.
Surprisingly, more than twenty minutes elapsed before the next goal was registered, and again it was the hosts who netted following a mistake in the visiting back-line, Tom Crosby being beaten for a second time by Hollingsworth, his effort affording a 2-1, interval lead.
A little over ten minutes had elapsed in the second period, the Badgers seeking another equaliser, West firing wide when put through by Brandon Kane; the second equaliser soon came however, with a little over twenty minutes remaining.
Mlynarski, a thorn in many a side so far this campaign, was instrumental, and he provided the cross for Badgers captain, Tom Brook to head home, even that joy was to be short-lived.
Just under fifteen minutes remained when the Oaks led for a third time, defender Drew Allwood chasing, and winning a loose ball, and fires past Crosby for their third of the game, taking a 3-2 lead into the final ten minutes.
Having now trailed three times in the game, the onus was on Kay’s Badgers to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat, not quite a rabbit, but West would be at hand to grab his second of the game with seven remaining, levelling the contest at threes-apiece, he having timed a powerful run into the box and heads past Toplis.
There would be time for more, there always is, although the hosts would have wished there wasn’t when at the death, it would be the visitors who’d snatch a fourth goal.
Having trailed three times, and come back on each occasion, a cross from the left caused euphoria as Abdulla stooped to head home what proved the winner, and afforded a vital, three points; victory for the Badgers sees them third in the table with a game in hand on the top two of Thorne Colliery and Newark Town, whilst Collingham, stunned by defeat, are fourth bottom, level on points with Crowle Colts and Askern Miners.
Collingham’s next outing is a trip to Clay Cross Town on Tuesday (12 October) night, whilst Retford United, they visit Glapwell on Saturday (16 October) afternoon.
Collingham: Toplis, Allwood, Townrow, Yarnell, Hillary, D. Evans, Judge, Presley, Hollingsworth, Stott, Holland.
Retford United: Crosby, Paling, Brook, Abdulla, Ludlam, Barlow, Mlynarski, Kane, Daughtrey, West, Littlejohn.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @RetfordUnited Igor Mlynarski and Tom Brook celebrate for Retford.
