Badgers still in hunt

Armthorpe Welfare 0

Retford United 1

After last weekend’s poor result against Brighouse Town, the Badgers returned to winning ways on their short journey to Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday.

United got off to an early attack as Chris Hall made it to the byline to cross for Warren Hatfield, but the United striker couldn’t find the target.

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Armthorpe then went on the attack, Stuart Preston firing his effort wide, and not long after, Ricky Chambers lost the ball in midfield, leading to Tom Hyde firing his shot into the side netting, a let off for the visiting side.

Armthorpe were having some good chances as they were playing with both the wind and slope of the pitch in their favour.

Chris Baugh had to clear off the line then Craig Morley headed inches wide of the post, and Joe Lumsden’s shot was not far from the foot of the post.

Eventually the deadlock was broken on 37 minutes and it was Retford who were the scorers.

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A free kick was awarded when Carl Haslam was pulled as he made a run, the ball was sent into the far post by Steve Carty, and with Lee Mellon putting the keeper under pressure, Danny Hayes rose to head the ball on target and give United the lead.

Armthorpe looked to get back into the game quickly, but Fisher was on form, tipping two efforts round the post.

And as the first half came to a conclusion, somehow, Armthorpe managed to clear one of their own shots off the line in a goalmouth scramble.

Early in the second half, Steve Carty was forced to leave the field injured after a challenge by the keeper who left his studs up and into the side of Carty as the pair challenged an aerial ball.

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Retford then had two quick corners, the first played short from Haslam to Chambers but the ball in was cleared, then the second corner fell out to Chambers just outside the box, only for his shot to canon against James Walker from point blank range.

Dave Issott, on for Carty, had a shot that fell to Hatfield, and his cross back into the box was appealed for handball by an Armthorpe defender, but a corner was given which came to nothing.

A positive performance keeps Retford, who make a short trip to second from bottom Maltby Main on Saturday, in the mix at the top of the division.