Big win for Retford United
The Badgers progressed into the next round of the Presidents Cup with a superb performance at the Shay on Tuesday evening at the second attempt after the original game fell victim to the cold snap a week earlier.
UniBond League Presidents Cup – Round 3
THE Badgers progressed into the next round of the Presidents Cup with a superb performance at the Shay on Tuesday evening at the second attempt after the original game fell victim to the cold snap a week earlier.
United welcomed back captain Michael Simpkins after an injury lay off and he was called into action in the opening stages of the game, Halifax forcing a corner in the first minute, Simpkins' powerful header clearing the danger when the ball was played in.
The home side tried to take an early lead, Tom Baker shooting at Ross Turner, the United keeper having to drop low to save.
Matt Fisher was fouled as he raced into the Halifax box, the free kick just outside the area, Simpkins' effort took a deflection and won United a corner.
The Shaymen then had a well worked free kick, spreading the ball out wide on the right, the cross sent in low with Halifax players waiting to pounce, but once again Simpkins was there to clear.
Ross Turner was then called into action once again, having to punch clear when another dangerous cross found its way across the box, and by this time, Halifax were looking dangerous with Cavell Coo causing problems on the right hand side.
Retford had another effort, Neil Harvey's ball to Ryan Ford was knocked on to Paul Grimes who was challenged with the ball falling to the oncoming Fisher, but his shot was straight at Jon Kennedy in the Halifax goal.
Mick Godber had a shot deflected wide after a ball through from Harvey, then Simpkins cross field ball was intercepted, Danny Ellis latching onto the misplaced pass, his ball to Damien Allen was too strong and ran out for a goal kick.
Paul Grimes did well to intercept the ball in midfield, his pass to Godber set the striker off on a run, but by the time Chris Bettney had been played in, the chance was snuffed out by the Halifax defence.
Shortly before the opening goal, Halifax had two chances, firstly Ellis and his strike partner Paul Gedman combined to win a corner, then from the corner kick, Ellis was inches away from connecting in front of goal with Turner able to collect.
It was Bettney, with his first goal for the club, that opened the scoring in the 36th minute, Dan White crossed, Harvey rose to head on then Betteny did well to control the ball after it hit his back, he turned with a defender nearby and unleashed a curling shot that sailed past Kennedy at full stretch, the keeper having no chance. It was a well taken goal, much to the delight of the travelling Badgers supporters.
This spurred United on and Harvey's ball to Grimes forced Kennedy into another save, palming the effort over his far post, then Godber was unlucky after he robbed the defence of the ball and tried to square for Harvey, but the referee blew for a foul and a free kick to Halifax was given.
Halifax were desperate for an equaliser and, in the first few minutes of the second half, Gedman tried his luck with a shot that was tame, Turner having an easy save to make.
Peter Duffield made a chance, bringing on Liam Nelthorpe for Matt Fisher, and he was only on the field for five minutes before he scored his first for the club, opening his account with a well taken shot, picking up the punch out from Kennedy after United had won a corner.
As the game went on, the Halifax fans were getting restless and on the few chances their side managed, they were being barracked from the main stand.
Neil Harvey had a chance that Kennedy had to push away, the ball falling to Ben Chambers, his cross in wasn't cleared and almost stopped on the goal line, with United substitute Lee Whittington challenging, somehow Kennedy getting to the loose ball to smother.
Halifax were getting very frustrated and this showed when Ashley Stott lashed his shot well wide, but United were the stronger side overall, Harvey and Bettney with a neat one-two out to Ford who shot over, but he almost found the net moments later a deflection forcing a corner after another shot on target.
From the corner, Halifax steamed forward, they had plenty of players making progress upfield, but Ritchie Sutton tried an effort that was hit low, but well wide, giving the home support more to groan about.
They then conceded a needless corner, with no danger, a clearance would have been easy, but for some reason, the Halifax player tried to play the ball, getting it stuck under his feet and out for a corner with no Retford player within 15 yards of him.
The game ended with boos ringing round the ground from the Halifax faithful, but a superb victory for United in a game that they fully deserved to win over their Northern Division counterparts.
It's back to league action on Saturday with a home game against Leek Town (3pm), the final game before Christmas, then on Boxing Day, United host Glapwell FC (3pm).
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Weather for Worksop
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
