Venue: The Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone, Notts
Competition: Notts F.A. Senior Cup Semi-final
Referee: Andy Dallinson
Scorers:
Clipstone - Callum Mawby? (15), Karl Colley (24), Josh Gibson (85), Ryan Damms (90+1)
Retford - Kyle Hadley (14)
Clipstone - to follow
Retford - Fuller, Swannack, Munn, Lucas, Hardman, Muirhead, Walker, Holdsworth, Hadley, Lee. Subs: Gregg, Knowles, Robinson, Booth
We usually enjoy our visits to Clipstone, having made lots of good friends over the past season or two. With a fair smattering of our buddies from North Notts also present, we were never short of company. Great to see Adam Barlow again - not seen him for a while. A lot of his time is now spent watching and promoting the women's game, so we rarely see him at any of our matches. Thanks for the contribution to the charity, Adam.
Retford Town !! I think not!
After exchanging pleasantries with Brett Marshall, and with Rob and Julie Waite, we took up a position near the halfway line where we met our good friend Richard Lane. Richard told us how his Son Rickie has six and a half pages of sports reports in the Newark Advertiser - not bad to say he's only been on the paper a short while.
Retford are struggling in the NCEL Premier division, whilst Clipstone are one of the favourites to secure promotion from NCEL division one. This was down as a home banker, but after Retford had soaked up all the early Clipstone pressure, they actually took the lead on 14 when a shot from the edge of the box hit KYLE HADLEY on the head and sent the ball flying over the home keeper.
The lead lasted barely 60 seconds though as straight from the restart the home team were on level terms, CALLUM MAWBY firing home from close range. Did Josh Gibson get a touch? Not sure, but the NCEL website credits the goal to the striker.
As Clipstone increased the pressure, it seemed inevitable that another goal would come and from a 24th minute corner, KARL COLLEY looped a header at the far stick that arched gracefully over Tom Fuller and nestled in the back of the net. H-T 2-1
Retford came out in the second half with a steely resolve and gave the home defence a testing time. Unfortunately the Badgers were unable to penetrate the Cobras back four, and the home team sealed victory with 6 minutes to go, JOSH GIBSON definitely grabbing this one. The icing on the cake for the home supporters was the fourth goal, scored by RYAN DAMMS. The striker collected well on the right and raced in at goal before lashing an unstoppable drive past Fuller from the corner of the box. F-T 4-1
The final will be at Field Mill sometime in April, where Clipstone will face Basford United, who beat Dunkirk 4-2 in the other semi-final. I only hope the organisation on the night is markedly better than it was the last time the final was held at Mansfield Town FC!
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 114
Charity: £3.75
