Retford Beaten In Playoffs

A five-goal thriller, at the Rail, put paid to Chris Woodhead’s Retford sides’ hopes for promotion this season.

The United Counties League Division One final saw Retford oppose a Blackstones side who finished fourth in the final league standings, and had overcome Retford United in the semi-finals a week earlier.

Aaron Sennett-Nielson opened the scoring for the hosts inside the opening ten minutes after the visiting defence had failed to clear, however, a penalty minutes before the break saw the sides go in level at the half, William Bestwick firing past Jon Kennedy, in the home goal, from a dozen yards.

Both Kennedy, and his opposite number, Max Peverell, kept their respective sides in the contest with saves early in the second period, but it would be the visitors who took the lead just after the hour mark when a ball across the Choughs box was turned home for an own-goal.

Bestwick added his second, and the Stones’ third, ten minutes later, firing home on a tight angle, via slight deflection, the visitors opening a two-goal cushion which they kept until the closing stages.

Ainsley Finney, having replaced Scott Boden early in the half, gave the hosts hope with their second, six minutes from time, netting past Peverell, to make for an exciting, nervy finish; the visitors however held on for the win, and with it, promotion.

On the plus side, there will be the small matter of the Retford derby again next season, both sides having fallen to Blackstones in the play-offs.

Retford – Jon Kennedy, Liam Marsden, Liam Bennett, Daniel Patterson, Steve Wankiewicz, Nicolantonio Degirolamo, Aaron Sennett-Nielson, Brandon Bradbury, Scott Boden, Sam Tingle, Iren Wilson (Silas Valladolid-Collins, Jacob Priestnall, Gavin Allott, Ainsley Finney, Jack McKay)

A handful of matches were played in the Central Midlands Alliance League over the past few days, two of which came in the Premier South.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills have pushed themselves to an eighth-place finish when finishing the season with four straight wins, their last, courtesy of a Billy Brooks brace, a 2-1 win at home to Bakewell Town.

Further up the table and Linby Colliery Welfare have had to settle for fourth place after a five-match winless streak finished their season off; the last two of those have been defeats against runners-up Melbourne Dynamo, Mason Moore’s late penalty scant consolation in their final day, 2-1 defeat.

In the CMA Division One East, Kirton Brickworks and Long Bennington played out a 2-2 draw, goals from Jack March and Dean Rogers seeing the hosts finishing the season in fifth place.

There was also plenty of action across the Notts Senior League, with the first two of the seasons cup finals having been decided; Hucknall Town Reserves won the Intermediate Cup with a 4-1 over FC Pelican, and Attenborough Development won the Development Cup 3-2 against AFC Warriors.

The two other cup finals, the Junior Cup (Collingham Reserves and Parabellum) and the Senior Cup (Aslockton & Orston and FCV Grace Dieu) will take place this coming weekend, Saturday 10 May.

Speaking of Aslockton and FCV, they clashed in the Premier Division on Saturday, the former sealing third place with a battling, 1-0 victory, teenager Reece Jones netting with fifteen remaining.

Other results in the NSL Premier would see Beeston edged a seven-goal thriller at home to Borrowash Victoria, and FC Sez win 5-0 at FC Cavaliers; Awsworth Villa finished fourth after a 3-2 win away to Ruddington Village, whilst there were draws in the games between Radcliffe Olympic and Woodthorpe Park Rangers, and Southwell City Reserves and runners-up, Cotgrave.

Division One also saw a couple of high-scoring games; runners-up Bingham Town win 4-3 away to AC United, and PMG Excel defeated hosts Meden Vale Colts 4-2, Rushcliffe won 3-1 away to Stapleford Town Reserves, Ravenshead won 1-0 at Sandiacre Town, and it was honours even in the game between Bilborough TRD and Keyworth United Reserves.

Peter-Mann Retford Beaten In Playoffs