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Sunday, August 17, 2008, 00:00
RETFORD completed their preseason warm up matches at UniBond Premier side Frickley Athletic and for the third game against their higher opposition, came out on top.
Frickley were first out of the blocks when Rob Pell had a chance after only two minutes, but he could only manage to fire wide.
Ollie Chappell laid off a knock down by Stewart Copnell into the feet of Mick Godber, but the Retford striker's shot on the turn was straight at the goalkeeper.
Pell again went on the goal hunt for Frickley. But his curling effort was poor and ended up going well wide of the target.
Copnell then almost made the opening goal, his cross to Owens looked to have beaten the defence, but Owens could not quite get the touch he would have liked and the ball ran to safety for Frickley.
Luke Staton's ball forward beat the back four and left Owens and Copnell both in an on side position. Owens raced towards goal, slotting the ball across for Copnell to strike, but Adam Nicklin in the Frickley goal did well to stifle the effort and then bravely save at the feet of Copnell.
Chris Kingston did well under pressure as Steve Heath was close by trying to connect with a ball into the box, but Kingston stood his ground to keep hold of the ball.
Retford were playing some good football, but being frustrated by the offside decisions. Adam Nicklin was having a good first half in goal for the hosts, denying Godber and Owens two clear cut chances, saving with his legs at close range from Owens after Copnell had tried an audacious overhead kick.
As the first half ended, Frickley had the last chance, Chris Davis sending Kingston full stretch, but the chance was wide of the near post.
Throughout the second half, Frickley made several substitutions, but this failed to spoil the United momentum.
Ryan Ford, returning to the side after holiday played in a dangerous looking ball, but the keeper was in place to save and then Copnell's effort was blocked by Dean Jones only into the path of Godber who could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
Frickley almost found the opener after a free kick was floated in and Jones' header was a fraction off target.
The substitute keeper Jon Hood carried on where Nicklin had left off in the first half, going down to save at the feet of Ollie Chappell after good work from Copnell had played the midfielder into a good position.
Stuart Ludlam was frustrated when he connected with Staton's free kick, his shot straight at Hood.
Retford thought they had finally broken the deadlock when Copnell fired home, smashing in Godber's cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, a decision that bewildered not only the Retford contingent, but also the hosts.
As the game moved into the last five minutes, Mick Godber worked hard to overcome the Frickley defence, stealing in past the last defender and stretching from the edge of the box to poke the ball past the advancing Hood.
A cameo appearance for the management duo of Peter Duffield and Neil Tooth, replacing Hindley and Godber respectively, and they were able to show their delight in stoppage time as Ford curled in a free kick that gave Hood no chance and sealed a well deserved 2-0 victory over Frickley, giving the Badgers an excellent psychological boost ahead of the new campaign.
United start their league campaign away at local rivals Carlton Town on Saturday (16) and then will host Grantham Town at Cannon Park on Tuesday evening (19).
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