Unibond League Premier Division
At: Cannon Park
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £8/£5; Programme: £2
Attendance: 233
Weather: sunny spells, blustery wind
Duration: first-half: 47:11; second-half: 49:04
It was the first Saturday of the month and Mrs ‘iwf’ couldn’t resist our church’s walking group outings to Barton-under-Needwood for a stroll round the east Staffordshire countryside and pub lunch. So I had Junior ‘iwf’ with me today and she chose this Unibond League Premier League game between the home side I’d seen at Sheffield FC on New Year’s Day and visitors who I last saw play in 1998.
No sign of football fans on the move as we made our way though we did spot a team coach (no time to make out the team name), heading west along the A50 near Sudbury. I promised a ‘McLunch’ so a detour to Woodall Services where we spotted a few fans wearing Leeds United replica shirts.
We found Cannon Park in a rural location just to the east of Retford on Leverton Road. Travelling through Retford and, after passing Morrisons and crossing the river, we turned right into Arlington Way then first left next to the boarded-up Broken Wheel pub into Spital Hill. This road became Leverton Road and the ground appeared on the right after the houses ended and past both the canal and railway bridges.
Large signs announced the place as Cannon Park, which I read in the programme had been Retford’s home since 2000. Through the turnstiles, programmes were on sale immediately inside the ground and the pitch (orientated roughly north–south) ran lengthways. Down the near touchline were several buildings housing the club shop, hospitality and PA room as well as a brick building on halfway with incorporated the bar, tea bar and changing rooms. Covered standing and he dugouts were also on the near side. A seated stand opposite over on the far touchline contained four rows of individual predominately black tip-up seats, numbering I estimate around 130. Two Retford flags were attached a wire mesh fence behind the near goal to prevent some stray shots from flying into the car park.
The 52-page programme, on sale for £2, impressed me with its wide variety of articles, match reports and statistics.
I’d read about Retford’s newly opened club shop on the website so we popped into purchase two badges – one of this season’s design and another one from last season. Teams were displayed on a whiteboard positioned outside the PA room. Former Stafford Rangers keeper James Lindley started for Retford while Junior ‘iwf’ was spotted the name of Michael Jackson amongst the Marine substitutes.
Promoted after winning the Division 1 South title last season, Retford are enjoying their first-ever season in the Unibond League Premier Division. They also won the South division in 2007/08 only to be refused promotion after failing a ground grading inspection. In fact they have made great strides up the pyramid in recent season since being crowned Central Midlands League Supreme Division Champions in 2003/04.
Retford went into this game unbeaten at home in 7th position with 17 points from 10 games. Marine were in the lower half of the table in a slightly 13th position on 13 points from 12 games. The seven teams immediately below Marine had games in hand and were within two points.
Players lined up in from of the clubhouse with their backs to the stand. Retford got the game underway attacking the entrance end, right to left from our position from the third row of the stand.
The home side (wearing black and white striped shirts with white sleeves, black shorts and socks) quickly got forward and won a first corner with less than a minute on the clock. The Retford drummer, who I presume was the same drummer at Sheffield FC on New Year’s Day, was encouraged by his side’s good start by starting to make his present heard.
Neil Harvey, sent off on New Year’s Day, got into a good position from Stuart Ludlam’s pull back and swept a low shot straight at Marine keeper Tim Dittmer, formerly with Vauxhall Motors.
In the 10th minute, Retford were awarded a free-kick 29 yards out, central position. Michael Simpkins stepped up to hit a left-footer over the wall that seeming destined for the top-right corner. Dittmer leapt up to his left to produce a superb save to turn the ball round for a corner.
Marine (in a change strip of yellow shirts, green shorts and socks) were under pressure but a mistake by James Lindley could have led to a goal. The keeper’s back pass clearance hit Alan Burton but the relieved Lindley recovered the ball with Burton and two other attackers closing in.
Dittmer again excelled in the 13th minute. Simpkin’s long free-kick was allowed to travel all the way to Harvey unmarked inside the Marine area but the keeper did well to beat away a well-struck shot.
Retford continued to create chances. Harvey spotted Dittmer on his line and sent a lob over the keeper which dropped just over the bar. The drummer was encouraged to beat his drum again for the home side missed another opportunity. Harvey fed strike partner Mick Godber who looked to round Dittmer in a one-on-one. However, the keeper got down bravely at the feet of the striker to push the ball to safety.
Just before the midpoint of the first half, a free-kick played forward into the Retford area wasn’t cleared and Jamie Rainford poked a 15-yard shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Perhaps the key moment of the whole game came in the 30th minute. Terry Barwick lunged at Jamie Rushton inside the Marine half close to the stand and was dismissed with a straight red card. The limping Rushton was helped off after some treatment and replaced in the 33rd minute by Peter Crewe wearing lime green coloured boots. Would 10-man Retford pay for their earlier missed opportunities?
Crewe almost made an immediate impact. Lindley appeared to fumble a loose ball inside the area which the substitute fired into the unguarded net from a narrow angle. The goal, however, was disallowed for what could only have been a foul on the former Stafford keeper.
Chances dried up until Marine created a slight opportunity just before the interval. Rainford battled on the edge of the area to set up Steve Hussey wouldn’t keep a rising shot down.
We popped back to the car before joining the refreshments queue by the tunnel for a tea and chocolate. I didn’t stop any raffle tickets on sale so we were surprised to hear the winning ticket announced – 907 yellow.
We returned to our seats on the third row of the stand and spotted that Retford had changed goalkeeper. I don’t know what happened to Lindley for Chris Kingston to emerge for the second half.
Just as they had done an hour or so before, Retford also made a good start to the second half. Godber did well to stretch and make contact with a low ball into the area but his effort flew over the bar. Lee Thompson delivered a free-kick into a crowded area from the left bye-line that initially fell to Nicky Ellis and the unlucky Godber saw his shot blocked.
However, as suspected, Marine were to make Retford suffer for not turning their excellent opening half-hour performance into a goal. In the 55th minute, Crewe still in his lime green boots dribbled into the area and Alan Burton hit an unstoppable 15-yard shot into the top-right corner. It certainly was a cracking finish and Kinsgton could do no more than retrieve the ball from the back of the net.
Retford took a while to respond. Coming down the left, the lively Harvey got the better of defender Tony Davies, who was completed wrong footed, but ended up firing over the bar
The home side picked up a couple of bookings in quick succession – Colin Marrison in the 67th minute for a foul on Hussey and Thompson three minutes later for a foul on Stephen Brown.
Marine made their second change in the 71st minute, replacing Lee Parle with Stephen Johnson. The visitors defence was in control though James Bell picked up a 77th-minute yellow card for needlessly kicking the ball away to waste time.
A minute after Bell’s booking, Retford made another substitution, taking off a defender, Thompson, and bring on Ian Clarke who was pushed further forward. Would a change in formation to three at the back bring an equaliser?
Bell was fortunate to escape a second yellow for a foul on Harvey. The striker continued briefly after treatment but eventually replaced in the 82nd minute by Paul Grimes.
Marine could have wrapped up the points with a second goal. Crewe sent Johnson down the left who delivered a low cross into the area. Rainford got on the end but fired wide of the right hand post.
With the sun shining and plenty of blue sky, Retford mounted a strong finish. Marrison saw a shot blocked inside the area by Davies after good work by Godber and in the next attack Bettney couldn’t direct a shot on target. The drummer got excited as Retford forced two corner in quick succession which came to nothing.
Just before four minutes of stoppage time were announced even Kingston went up into the Marine area for another Retford corner.
Rainford was booked for timewasting (90+1 minutes) before his well-struck shot was beaten away by the alert Kingston. The keeper also did well to tip over a rising shot from Brown which led to two successive corners where Marine made sure the home side had no opportunity to break upfield.
Neil Harvey was named Man of the Match.
Goal:
0-1 Burton (55)
