First Three Points For Retford Duo

At the second time of asking, the Choughs and the Badgers have registered their first victories of the new, non-league season.

Having drawn their season opener at home to Handsworth on Saturday, Chris Woodhead’s Retford side picked up their first three points on Wednesday night, following a 2-1 win at Campion.

Meanwhile, Ryan Hindley’s Retford United, who were beaten at Golcar United at the weekend, eased to a 2-0 home win over Pickering Town, the duo moving into the, early, top ten on the back of those successes.

Away to Campion, all three goals arrived in the first half as both Aaron Sennett-Neilson, and Iren Wilson, got off the mark; Sennett-Neilson bagged the opener after twenty minutes before the hosts were reduced to ten men shortly after, defender Matthew Nebard seeing red.

From the resulting free-kick, Wilson was on-hand to double the visitors lead, before Sonny Whittingham halved that minutes before the break; Campion came close to levelling early in the second period through Paddy Sykes, whilst the Choughs missed a penalty just after the hour mark, the score staying at 2-1 to the visitors.

Back in Retford meanwhile, the Badgers picked up their first three points of the season with a 2-0 win over visiting Pickering Town, Oliver Wilson and Ben Ashall netting a goal in each half for the points.

The opener came inside the first ten minutes after Wilson, having won back the ball, smashed home, and they could just as easily had more, Carlton Carty, and Wilson, seeing chances go amiss.

Pickering’s best chance arrived at the start of the second period when striking the upright, as both battled to create goalscoring opportunities; Brandon Kane rattled the bar as the contest ticked into the final thirty, before the decisive second arrived with fifteen left on the game-clock.

Ashall’s effort was deemed, by the linesman, to have crossed the line, after hitting the crossbar, and the Badgers were two to the good, with Wilson coming close, on a couple of occasions, to adding a third thereafter.

Bottesford Town have started the NCEL Premier season on fire, hitting thirteen without reply in their opening two; Wednesday night saw them put Keighley Town to the sword, 10-0, with Owen Vincent’s four-goal salvo taking his early tally to six in two outings.

Over in the United Counties League meanwhile, and there were three matches played in the Premier North on Tuesday night, Wednesday’s game between Hucknall Town and Newark Town was abandoned due to floodlight failure.

Eastwood and AFC Mansfield shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller, whilst Sherwood Colliery suffered another defeat, and Kimberley Miners Welfare were on the end of a hiding.

Kian Sketchley had Mansfield two to the good at the break in Eastwood, before goals from Jamie Walker and Theo Flanagan levelled proceedings with twenty to go; Kaylum Mitchell grabbed a third for the visitors with six minutes remaining but Tyler Blake ensured it was honours when he equalised in the closing minutes.

Sherwood were beaten 2-0 at home to Sheffield, the goals there coming in the final, half hour, whilst Rumai Johnson grabbed a hat-trick as Ashby Ivanhoe romped to a 6-0 home win over visiting Kimberley MW – early days, granted, but Kimberley, Eastwood, and Sherwood, are already in the bottom six.