Retford United 1-1 Garforth Town

Garforth dominated the first half and rightly took the lead through a Glen Wood thunderbolt.
A penalty late in the second half gave Retford a share of the spoils.

Nick Black almost gave Town the lead after only 3 mins when Sam Akeroyd did well in the corner to pick him out, his header being blocked by the Badgers’ defence. Black had another go 10 mins later with a low shot from about 25 yards, but was denied by home keeper Tom Fuller.

Retford’s only real chance of the half came on 19 mins when a decent move down the right ended in Jack Steadman shooting just over the bar. Town had had most of the play though, and whilst it wasn’t a surprise to see us taking the lead, not many would’ve guessed where from. Defender Glenn Wood received the ball in midfield and unleashed a rocket from around 35 yards which flew into the bottom corner. Another Miners defender with a taste for “Worldies”?

Eight minutes later Dominic Hackney almost grabbed his second Town goal with a drive from the edge of the box but Fuller was equal to it. On 35 mins Fuller was there again when defender James Young headed a Luke Mangham cross towards his own net.

Half time and Town were well worth their 1-0 lead, the players attacking well against an organised defence and working hard to cover a huge amount of ground to suffocate the home side. The Nottinghamshire side had to up their game, and sadly for us they did. Five minutes in the linesman only seemed fire them up even more. A ball into the box from sub Liam Wilkin was diverted into the net by Liam Smith with keeper Ben Hunter stranded, but offside was given despite some strong appeals. They went close again on 53 mins when Liam McFayden’s glancing header from a corner went just over.

Garforth by now seemed frustrated by proceedings, with a few decisions from the ref going against us and at times struggled to keep possession. A promising attack on 71 mins though saw Daniel Harris try to pick out Hackney in the box with a good ball in but keeper Fuller was alert enough to get just in front of him and collect.

After not having much to do in the first half Hunter was called into action around the 80 min mark to prevent an equaliser, doing well to hold a dangerous ball in from Jimmy Walker before putting in a super stop on the line with his feet to block a Liam Gaughan drive.
A goal was surely coming however, and on 89 mins a break forward down the left saw Wilkin fouled by Smith in the area and the referee giving a penalty, the second conceded in two matches. Unsurprisingly the Retford marksman stepped up himself and sent Hunter the wrong way to level things up.

Whilst the manner and timing of the equalizer were frustrating for the team and travelling support, it was a point away from home which on reflection many would’ve taken before the game, especially given the last two visits here ended in defeat.