Dearne & District 0-3 Retford United (Central Midlands League Premier Division North) 23.10.21

Liam Kay led his battling Badgers into South Yorkshire, to Kingsmark Way, against mid-table Dearne & District in the Central Midlands League at the weekend, and returned home with all three points, and a clean sheet, in a 3-0 win.

The highlight of the game, well fans had to wait until the closing minutes for that one, even though the hosts could easily have won the match themselves had the linesman’s flag stayed down – fortunately for Retford,, and Adam Daughtrey, it didn’t, and his cheeky effort, did.

The opening stages of the contest though, brought to life by a twelfth minute opener from Mason Barlow, he winning the ball back in the final third and firing past the home ‘keeper; shortly after the Badgers’ strike, Dearne would have the first of several efforts flagged for offside, Crosby’s goal certainly leading a charmed life.

Having led at the break, it would not be until close to midway through the second period that action picked up again, that coming shortly after Kay had made his first change, and again the hosts being crestfallen by the officials’ flag, whilst Stuart Ludlam put in a commanding performance for the visitors.

It would not be until the final fifteen minutes that the Badgers’ took a firm grip of the game, Dean Conway, substituted minutes later, doubling the visitors lead with a great finish; before Conway was subbed, there was time for the hosts to go down to ten men thanks to two, yellow card offence.

Not long after Conway was replaced by Frost, the hosts were at it again, another player seeing red, before Daughtrey added a cheeky third.

Igor Mlynarski would take a free-kick on the left, Daughtrey reacted quickest, nipped his marker, stunned the home ‘keeper from six yards out, and, with a slightest of back-flicks, the ball glances in at the near post.

The home shot-stopper was rooted to the spot, Daughtrey and his team-mates reeled away in elated celebration, a perfect way to wrap up a tough outing on the road, and take the three points back home.

Victory, maintains the Badgers’ third place standing in the league, five behind leader Club Thorne Colliery, and four off Newark Town, both of whom also collected victories.

The Badgers’ next two outings are also on the road, visiting Harworth Colliery on Tuesday (26 October) night, before a trip to Sheffield Reserves on Saturday (30 October) afternoon.

Retford United: Tom Crosby, Jay Paling, Tom Brook, Daniel Booth, Stuart Ludlam, Mason Barlow, Igor Mlynarski, Callum Spencer (Kwosi Nwobi 66), Adam Daughtrey, Mark West, Dean Conway (Liam Frost 78).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @JonMatthews a solid win for the Badgers on the road.