Retford Win Comfortably

Retford 3-0 Glasshoughton Welfare (Northern Counties East League Division One) 18.12.21

Chris Woodhead’s Choughs side certainly shattered the glass ceiling on Saturday afternoon, in their last game of 2021, defeating visitors Glasshoughton Welfare 3-0 at The Rail.

Granted it took until the final twenty minutes, and the introduction of super-sub Alex Wonham, for Woodhead’s side to claim a deserved three points, they did it all the same – mind you, that change was made after just thirty minutes, he replacing Zach Casburn.

Both sides would muster themselves a few chances during the first half, one which remained goalless, despite efforts from the visitors’ Lewis Stephens, Ashley Bell, James Cusworth, and Aaron Gray, and the hosts’ seeing chances go begging by Liam White, George White, and Matt Robinson, but ‘keepers Jon Kennedy (Retford) and Thomas Carr (Glasshoughton) held firm.

It would take near twenty minutes of the second period before the deadlock was finally broken, and, with Matthew Parkin firing over early on, the Choughs would be forced into making a change as Matthew Robinson was forced off through injury, Under 18s player, Will Lyons stepping up to the plate.

The opening goal of the game came, on the back of an opposition attack, that being thwarted by Kennedy in the Choughs goal, he despatching the ball quickly upfield, and a few, awkward bounces later, Wonham would pick through the visitors defence, and fire into the bottom corner of the outstretched Carr’s goal.

Having waited nearly seventy minutes for the opener, Choughs fans only had a handful of minutes to wait before number two was scored, and it would be that man Wonham who was at it again.

Adam Scott would deliver the decisive pass, Wonham turned, flew goal-wards, and arrowed a shot straight into Carr’s net, again.

Would you believe it, there was only a matter of time before number three landed, inside ten minutes, this coming after a corner was fired into the box, Carr punched clear, but only as far as Adam Parkin, who fired right back in, through a crowded a box, to make it 3-0.

It was a strong victory for Woody’s Retford, and afterwards, the boss said: “Get in!!

“What a result. Well done lads, we are proud of you as always.

“Thank you for the support in horrible conditions; over 100 again.

“Another three points for you Buster.”

Now, with the festive season right around the corner, Chris Woodhead and his Retford side return to the fray on Tuesday, 28 December, with a local affair away to Ollerton Town.

Retford: Jon Kennedy, Leon Larcombe-Loftus, Haydn Goddard, Matthew Robinson (Will Lyons 49), Matthew Parkin, Liam Bennett, George White, Jack Johnson, Zach Casburn (Alex Wonham 30), Liam White (Adam Scott 62), Jack Walters.