Badgers frustrated by struggling Lincoln side

The Lincoln side featured several new faces and Retford knew this would be a tough game as the visitors fought for their lives

Retford started well, Adam Scott forcing a good save from the legs of Craig Turner in the Moorlands goal, the ball out to Danny Frost being fired over the bar.

The link between Bobby Johnson and Liam Wilkin created chances for the hosts but there was no end product, as Badgers had the majority of early possession.

There was a scare for the home side however, against the run of play, as Kevin Lusumba muscled his way through the defence and got past Duffy, but Rob Sanderson was there to hook off the line.

With their tails up, Lincoln came again, Nicholas Labbate’s dipping shot warning Retford that the visitors weren’t going to roll over.

Sanderson forced a good save from the Moorlands keeper from a corner, and then challenged Turner for a high ball but the ball bounced wide.

Finally, on 40 minutes, the breakthrough came as Graeme Severn played the ball to Wilkin, he fed Johnson and his cross was headed home by Danny Frost.

The half-time whistle came with United on top and the supporters looking for more goals in the second half, but what came next was a different story.

More early pressure from the home side saw Scott latch onto a poor clearance, sliding the ball in for Wilkin to give chase, but the flag was raised for offside.

Gav Cooper had a great effort that Turner palmed away for a corner, although a goal kick was awarded, much to the amazement of those in the ground.

Wilkin finally broke the offside, he got into a good position to cross for Frost, who couldn’t quite get contact on the ball, then another good cross, this time by Frost saw Wilkin strike the ball over.

There was a golden chance for the hosts to wrap up the points on 72 minutes when Frost was tripped in the box, and awarded a spot-kick.

Despite having netted both previous penalties for Retford, he blazed this one over the bar and the miss was to prove costly.

How Retford didn’t score on 80 minutes beggared belief, Turner saving Sanderson’s shot then blocking Frost’s smashed volley from close range, before another shot was stopped on the line.

With only five minutes remaining, Lincoln won a free-kick after a foul by Sanderson on the corner of the box, Craig Roche took the free-kick, bent it over the wall and neatly into the top corner with Duffy beaten to earn Lincoln their second point of the season.

Retford travel to Maltby Main on Saturday, in league action.