Ahead of Boxing Day’s ‘Retford Derby’ both Chris Woodhead (Retford) and Ryan Hindley (Retford United) celebrated milestones with the respective clubs, with victory in the Northern Counties East Division One, on Saturday afternoon.
The Choughs will host the derby, and they sit eleventh in the table, sandwiched between Louth Town and Harrogate Railway Athletic, Woodhead’s side celebrating his 300 game at the helm with a narrow, 1-0 win, away to Nostell Miners Welfare.
Henry Covill would score the only goal of the game, fifteen minutes into the first half, whilst Choughs manager, Woodhead, spoke after the game – watch interview here
RETFORD – Ethan Cowan, Leon Loftus, Haydn Goddard, Matt Thompson, Joe Bayne, Liam Bennett, Charlie Williams, Jack Johnson, Liam Frost, Hayden Covill, Aaron Sennett-Nielson
Meanwhile the Badgers, in what was their manager, Hindley’s 50 match at the helm, and he saw his side ease to a 4-0 home win over Clay Cross Town.
Badgers fans had to wait until ten minutes in the second period before the goals started to arrive, Liam Owen opening the scoring in the 54 minutes; seemingly set for a lone-goal win themselves, the visitors collapsed in the closing stages, conceding three in a matter of minutes at the death.
Charlie Baird made a triumphant return to the squad when, having coming on for Alister Haydock with minutes remaining, bagged a brace, in just four minutes; his first saw him slotting into an empty net following great work from Brandon Kane, and the second, after a lovely pass from fellow substitute, Kieran Wells, curled home into the bottom corner.
Owen completed the scoring shortly after Wells added a second assist and played in his team-mate to wrap up a four-goal success, a result which sees them sitting nicely poised in fifth-place, nine behind leaders, and favourites, Wakefield, ahead of the derby up the road, on Boxing Day.
RETFORD UNITED – Danny Haystead, Max Dungworth, Max Pemberton, Sam Finlaw, Owen Fieldsend, Alister Haydock, Jake Champion, Brandon Kane, Liam Owen, Mark West, Josh Nodder
Elsewhere, and in the Northern Premier League, it was a lone-goal loss for Basford United, at home to Guiseley, and Worksop were held to a goalless draw at Lancaster; Ollerton Town meanwhile, also in the NCEL, suffered a 3-0 loss when at Swallownest.
There was mixed fortunes aplenty for Notts clubs across the United Counties League, in the Premier Division North, Sherwood Colliery’s leadership is down to three points, from second place Lincoln United, and six ahead of Melton Town, in third, they both having games in hand on the leaders.
Colliery, they were held to a 1-1 draw when away to Belper United, Kieran Knight with the goal for the leaders in the first half; AFC Mansfield sit eleventh following a 2-0 home win over local rivals Hucknall Town after McKenna Parton and Jordan Smith netted early in each half.
Newark & Sherwood United meanwhile, sitting at the wrong end of the table, eased to a 4-1 win at home to Boston Town, Liam Moran netting a brace alongside goals from Kian Sketchley and Ainsley Finney; Kimberley Miners Welfare were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Ashby Ivanhoe, and Eastwood CFC suffered a heavy loss when at Loughborough Students, Dylan Edwards with a brace for the hosts in a 6-1 win.
In UCL Division One goals from Jack Thatcher and Dylan Fitzpatrick saw Dunkirk move into seventh place following a 2-1 home win over Blackstones, leapfrogging their opponents; Sandiacre Town continued their climb away from the relegation zone with a 2-1 win of their own, Robbie Horsley and Lamin Jasseygm netting against visitors Leicester St. Andrews, and West Bridgford overturned a two-goal, interval deficit, to defeat visitors Radford by the odd goal in five.
An early brace from Jevin Seaton had the visiting Pheasants firmly in the driving seat at the halfway stage however, upon the restart, the hosts turned up the pressure and, goals from Ryan Krause and Harvey Grice levelled proceedings going into the latter stages; then, with ten minutes left on the clock, the comeback was complete when Aboubacar Sylla netted what proved to be the winner, with ten minutes remaining.
Elsewhere in the division, Kieran Harrison scored twice as Gedling Miners Welfare drew 2-2 away to Holwell Sports, Cliftton All Whites and Newark Town drew 1-1 thanks to goals from Isaac Morledge and Dylan Fitzpatrick respectively, and Rainworth Miners Welfare lost 2-0 away to Harrowby United.
Woodhouse Colts are eighth in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier North following a 1-1 draw away to Kiveton Miners Welfare, Jayden Bull with the goal for the Colts, and in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, Stapleford Town hold an eight-point advantage on joint-second Awsworth Villa and Collingham, and nine on fourth place Wollaton, who all have games in hand.
Wollaton were the only one of the top five to play, they winning 2-1 at home mid-table Beeston, thanks to goals from Ryan Pearson and Jarrod Westcarr; elsewhere games involved sides in the bottom half of the division as Michael Lindsay bagged a brace for FC Sez on Friday night at home to Ruddington Village, and David Draycott scored two as Radcliffe Olympic won 3-0 at Borrowash Victoria.
The remaining games saw Dunkirk edge a five-goal thriller away to Ravenshead, and Keyworth United edged visiting Gresley Rovers Reserves by the solitary goal.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Retford_FC Choughs Manager Chris Woodhead celebrates his sides win at the weekend.
