Badgers back to winning ways at Easter

The Badgers returned to action after a weather enforced break, and started well with an early chance.

Tom Dorgan shot from distance, but it was always rising and cleared the bar.

Graeme Severn played in a good cross that the Maltby Keeper Andy Carney had to punch clear.

After only five minutes, Retford were in the lead thanks to Adam Scott’s strike, meeting a corner ball that Carney failed to get to in the air.

The home side pushed forward again, Reece Thompson going close as the keeper saved at the United striker’s feet.

On six minutes, Maltby were level.

Adam Houghton won a corner, the ball was sent in and not dealt with by the Retford defence, and Matthew Plant was there to poke it past Ayden Duffy for 1-1.

Thompson broke past the Maltby defence again, this time his shot was the wrong side of the post, but United were back in the lead after 11 minutes, Scott with his second, finding the target with a fine strike.

Retford were well on top and Thompson was guilty of missing another chance, losing his footing as he tried to shoot.

On 20 minutes, Retford were awarded a penalty after Thompson had got into the box, and was tripped as he bore down on goal, Carney lucky to escape more serious punishment than a yellow card.

Scott stepped up for his hat-trick but somehow couldn’t find the target and the ball clipped the post before being cleared.

The Retford man hit the woodwork again when his seemingly goalbound shot cannoned off the angle of the crossbar.

Thompson’s header in front of goal had the keeper at full stretch to keep the ball out, then Bobby Johnson’s dipping effort was only inches wide.

Craig Gladwin tried to bring Maltby back into the game, his effort was well wide of the upright with Duffy untroubled, then Thompson again had an effort, and again it was Carney that kept him out.

Maltby were first out of the traps in the second half, Oliver Graham hitting a shot over the bar.

Robert Branagan gaveDuffy his first real save to make, palming the ball away from the Maltby man’s shot.

Adam Scott sent in a free-kick, but despite the keeper fumbling the ball, he managed to get hold before Retford could react.

Finally the decisive goal arrived on 82 minutes, substitute Craig Aspinall finding the net just five minutes after coming off the bench.

United could have had a fourth, Thompson clean through with only Carney in his way, but the shot was touched away for a corner.

A late chance for Maltby saw Brian Cusworth put the ball over, before the full-time whistle gave Retford fans a happy Easter.

United are next in action on Saturday as they travel North to Hall Road Rangers (3pm).