House treble sends Town into final

By dmarshall

Retford Town travelled to Attenborough, for this Notts Intermediate Cup semi-final, to face their Notts Senior League opponents.

Town had an early chance and the home side also went close, but after only eight minutes the Reds went ahead through House who finished into the bottom corner.

After 13 minutes Retford were awarded a penalty and the Attenborough goalkeeper was given a red card.

The spot-kick was hammered home by the Reds' skipper James Woodward to double his side's lead.

From a throw-in Woodward, in a different midfield role, headed straight at the keeper.

Despite Town's bright start (right) and being a man to the good, the home side, to their credit, raised their game and a superb saving tackle by Metcalfe kept it at 2-0.

Gallagher then sent Law away but the stand-in keeper made a good save and, moments later, Law's pinpoint cross found House whose goal-bound header was superbly saved.

Town did not finish the later stages with any great confidence but should have been further ahead than two goals.

The home side got a goal back on the hour when Holberry parried a shot but it went straight back to the striker who shot past the Town goalkeeper.

The goal lifted Attenborough and the Reds looked very uncomfortable.

The Retford defence again failed to deal with some skilful approach play and Attenborough shocked the visitors by drawing level.

Pashley was brought on for Town and again the Retford attack was caught out by the home side's offside tactics.

Joel Turner was brought into midfield at this stage for Russell as the game became very open with both sides seeking a winner.

But with eight minutes left, Retford went behind and poor defending was to blame, with Attenborough ecstatic at coming back from two down to take the lead.

Holberry made a top drawer save with the Reds playing three up in a desperate attempt to draw level.

But, with time up, young Turner played a great ball to House who lobbed the keeper to make it 3-3 at the death and take the Reds into extra-time.

In an attempt to take the game to the opposition, Retford played three at the back in J. Woodward, Metcalfe and Gallagher, and three up front with Pashley joining Garner and House.

Turner again picked out a good pass to House and he was unlucky with his shot, just over the bar.

Retford were looking at last the better side and an opportunist quick throw went from Garner to Smith, who in turn crossed to House, who calmly completed a superb hat-trick and the winning goal for Retford.

A very hard won semi-final in which Attenborough's excellent 10-man effort was unlucky to get nothing from the match, which was in the balance right up to the last kick.

For Retford, the back line of Woodward, Gallagher and Metcalfe played well, but the Houseproud man of the match award went to hat-trick hero Dan House.

Retford at long last get back to league action at Thorne Town on Saturday with a 12.45pm start and 1pm at Bawtry.