BADGERS slipped to their first home defeat of the campaign on Saturday.
UniBond Premier
Retford United 0
Marine 1
The hosts missed chances in the first half and had to play with 10 men for an hour after the dismissal of Terry Barwick.
Retford will rue the chances they created in the first half, winning a corner i
n the first minute thanks to Stuart Ludlams's strong run, but the ball in from Chris Bettney was easily cleared.
Lee Thompson found Neil Harvey after playing in a good ball, the United striker shooting first time, but Tim Dittmer was there in the Marine goal.
Retford won a free-kick after Paul Ellender was fouled, Stephen Brown being given a lecture by the Referee for kicking the loose ball at Ellender, to which the United midfielder re-acted.
Michael Simpkins stepped up to take the free-kick, half of the ground cheered as it looked to have curled into the top corner, however, somehow Dittmer managed to get a hand to it to palm away for a corner kick.
Marine went close after a poor clearance from James Lindley hit Brown, but he managed to collect as he scrambled back with Liam Rushton bearing down.
Another great save from the Marine Keeper, once again from Harvey after Colin Marrison fed the Striker, his shot blocked on the line.
A looping ball helped by the wind from Thompson set Terry Barwick up, but his header was easily saved by Dittmer.
Then another chance for the Badgers fell to Harvey, his dipping volley just over the crossbar.
Retford were bossing the game, and Mick Godber, still looking for his 100th goal for the club, played the ball into the box that Barwick challenged for with Dittmer, the Marine keeper coming out on top, then another good chance saw Dittmer foil the United attack, a brave dive with Godber bearing down to keep the score at 0-0.
The flashpoint came on the half hour mark, a lunging challenge from Barwick on Liam Rushton earned the United midfielder a straight red card, and forced the substitution of the Marine Striker.
Down to 10 men, United still kept pushing, but were almost undone at the other end as substitute Paul Crewe looked to have scored after dispossessing Lindley in his own box, but as the ball rolled into the net, the linesman pulled up for a foul and United breathed a sigh of relief.
Godber challenged Dittmer on the edge of his area, appealing for a touch outside the box, but nothing given, and as the first half drew to a close, Captain Steven Hussey's shot was picked up by the wind and floated wide of the post.
A half time change saw Chris Kingston enter the field for James Lindley, and once again it was Retford who started the strongest, Ludlam and Harvey combining to pass to Godber, but as he stretched to make contact, he could only put the ball over the bar.
The killer goal came on 55 minutes, the United defence failing to deal with Crewe, the ball eventually dropping to Alan Burton who made no mistake as he smashed the ball into the roof of the net, giving Kingston no chance.
Still being frustrated by Dittmer, United kept on the pressure, Godber racing to the line, his cross smothered by the Marine shot stopper, then a surging run by Harvey on the left, after collecting a ball froward from Thompson was fired over the bar.
As the game wore on, United kept looking for the goal, but it was not to come, Bettney's dipping shot falling straight to Dittmer.
James Bell was lucky not to have followed Barwick into the changing rooms for an early shower, having been booked moments earlier, a crude challenge on the edge of the box on Harvey went without the referee having a word, the United striker having to receive treatment, which was testament to a frustrating afternoon with the standard of refereeing decisions.
Marine could have doubled their leasd, Ludlam losing out to Jamie Rainford, the Marine striker putting the ball the wrong side of the post when he should have done better.
The game went into the final 10 minutes, and still it was Retford who were the brighter side, Godber played in Marrison whose shot was blocked falling to Bettney who put his shot wide, then Ian Clarke won a corner, Kingston coming up to challenge as a last ditch attempt, but it still was to prove to be a frustrating afternoon for the Badgers.
United now face Whitby Town at Cannon Park on Tuesday evening (6th) then a trip to Ossett Town next Saturday.
