Retford United 1-0 Newark Town (Central Midlands League Premier Division North) 13.11.21

It was a big afternoon at the top of the Central Midlands League North on Saturday afternoon as Newark Town made the forty-plus mile round trip north to face fellow high-fliers, and hosts, Retford United, a game in which just one goal, late on, would settle.

An opening quarter in which there was very little action from both sides would actually take until a little over five minutes from the interval before the first attempt on target was registered, Retford star, Igor Mlynarski, who, minutes earlier had dragged an effort wide, would see his free-kick, from fully thirty yards, saved well by Harry Heywood.

Heywood would again keep the visitors on level terms in the closing stages of the half before a difficult opener came to a close with the two sides goalless, and after very little in the way of attempts on goal.

The opening of the second period would see the hosts collect a second booking before Tom Crosby, in the home goal, save an effort from Mason Rhiney, before Tom Brook, at the other end of the field, heads a corner wide of goal.

Mlynarski would again prove his danger in the opposition half following another raid, his cross meeting Adam Daughtrey, his header though goes wide of Haywood’s goal before the game heads into the final ten with the visitors in the ascendency.

A shot from Ben Sharpe is saved well by Crosby, and from the resulting corner, by Nathan Arnold, is headed over Crosby’s bar by James Gardner; within minutes of that agonising miss, the hosts would grab what would prove the winning goal.

With six minutes remaining, the Badgers found themselves on yet another foray into the visiting half, this time Mark West delivers a pinpoint cross which reaches Dean Conway, the substitute in turn heads a perfect knockdown to the onrushing Mason Barlow, who unleashes a left-foot, half-volley from the edge of the box.

Arrowing past the despairing dive of Haywood and bulging the back of the net, Newark players on down and despaired, as Retford run off in delight, celebrating a hard-fought goal, and in turn, a much-needed three points in the middle of what is an intriguing, title race.

It was a victory that moved Liam Kay’s Badgers into second place, five adrift of leaders Club Thorne Colliery, although the Badgers have played a game more; the leaders collected another win, when away to St Joseph’s Rockware of Worksop, whilst Clay Cross Town, the other side in the mix at the top, fell to defeat at home to Dearne & District.

Next up for the two Notts clubs, Retford United travel to Nottingham (mid-table in Premier South), in the First Round of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy, whilst Newark Town welcome Clifton All Whites, on 20 November.

Retford United: Tom Crosby, Jason Paling, Tom Brook, Aaron Fell, Stuart Ludlam, Mason Barlow, Adam Daughtrey, Brandon Kane, Charlie Baird (Dean Conway 60), Mark West, Igor Mlynarski.

Newark Town: Harry Haywood, Zak Kersey (Sidnei Costa 58), Ben Sharpe, Rays Lewis, Sam Bartle (Elliott Burrell 83), James Gardner, Nathan Arnold, Jackson Buckthorp, Lewis Chambers, Jonny Wiles, Mason Rhiney (Sam Newell 71).

Venue: Cannon Park

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @TomRoberts the two sides lining up to remember the countries fallen soldiers.