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Friday, August 08, 2008, 00:00
United forced the pace right from the kick off, Stewart Copnell testing the Worksop keeper with a long shot, but the effort went wide.
Dan White played the ball forward to Copnell who tried to send the ball into the box, Worksop cleared, but only as far as Mick Godber whose attempted shot was blocked by the Worksop defence.
Worksop won a corner after 10 minutes, Chris Kingston punching clear under pressure in a busy box, Steve Akers' shot then easily saved by Kingston.
Good work on the right by Godber and Ollie Chappell almost created an opportunity, but Chappell's cross was cleared.
After 17 minutes Mick Godber opened the scoring, firing home past Leigh Walker after connecting with Ryan Hindley's cross from the left wing.
Copnell again tested Walker's resolve when he saw the keeper off his line, and his long range effort from the half way line went just wide.
Worksop were not able to break through the Retford defence, limited to only long shots which were well dealt with by Kingston.
The upright saved the Tigers from going further behind as Hindley's free kick came off the head of a Worksop defender and, with Walker well beaten, the ball hit the upright and out to safety.
The lead was extended for the Badgers on 40 minutes, Ollie Chappell doing well to get contact on the ball under pressure from the Worksop defence, his shot rasping past Walker to ensure United went in at the break with a comfortable lead.
Akers had a shot early in the second period, but the United defence stood strong and remained relatively untroubled.
United at the other end were trying to force another opening, Hindley's corner almost converted by Chappell, only for the ball to agonisingly go wide.
Dave Cockerill hit a shot that ran across the face of the United goal, but Retford were on the attack soon after, Copnell robbing Kevin Davies on the wing, but his cross into the box could not pick out any black and white shirts.
The referee deemed Stuart Ludlam to have handled the ball in the area as Worksop made a rare trip into the United box, Kevin Sansay stepping up to take the spot kick.
Kingston went the right way as he dived to his left, a fraction away from making contact with the ball, the Retford cheers going up as it hit the post and away to safety.
An excellent move involving Matt Fisher, Steve Owens and Stuart Ludlam led to Ludlam getting to the line, putting in a dangerous ball making Worksop clear frantically for a corner.
As the minutes ticked away, a mix up between Walker and Cockerill almost let in Owens, Walker having to clear quickly as Owens bore down.
A satisfying afternoon for Retford United, beating their Bassetlaw rivals, and playing some attractive football.
With only two weeks to the start of the new season, one final Pre Season game on Saturday against Frickley Athletic (away) remains, then it is league action at Carlton Town on August 16.
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