Lead maintained

The Badgers maintained their lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Lincoln Moorlands on Boxing Day.

It was Lincoln who had the first chance after five minutes when Danny Hargreaves’ shot was superbly tipped away by the in form Retford keeper Jason Fisher.

Retford looked to make their league position count when a free-kick was floated into the box by Steve Carty, Corey Nightingale challenging in the box, but the ball was cleared.

Warren Hatfield got himself into the box, his shot was blocked to the feet of Adam Scott who tried to power the ball on target, but his effort was hooked away by the Lincoln defence.

The home side should have taken the lead when Tom Finnigan found himself unmarked at the far post, just a touch on the ball would have found the target, but he couldn’t make contact as he tried to head his side into the lead.

This would prove costly for Lincoln as on 15 minutes, Retford did take the lead, a short corner played in from Carty to Scott was then put back into the box into the danger area and Hatfield was in place to stab the ball into an empty net with the keeper beaten, his outstretched leg poking the ball over the line to put United into the driving seat.

Another free-kick was played into the box with both Nightingale and Danny Hayes challenging, but they were crowded out and the ball was cleared.

Lincoln had a couple of good chances as Joe Butler raced into the box, Hayes having to hook clear for a corner, then Hargreaves played in a great ball, but there were no Lincoln players in the area to use the final ball.

Josh Nodder had a shot from the edge of the box that left everyone standing, the ball seemingly going over, but amazingly, and luckily for Retford, the ball dipped and struck the upright before bouncing away leaving Retford breathing a sigh of relief.

Jamie Brown made a good run, but was cruelly flagged off side as Dave Issott tried to play him in on goal, it was a tight decision, and another Retford chance went begging.

The second half was only five minutes old when Retford increased the lead, Scott beating the offside trap and getting into the box with only the keeper to beat.

With Herrick committed, Scott kept his cool and hit the ball into the empty net from close range to double the visitors advantage.

Ten minutes later and the game was over, Hatfield with his second of the game, after a challenge on the edge of the box, it looked as if the chance had gone for Retford, with Hatfield on the floor and the ball running loose, but the United top scorer managed to get up enough to find the target from the edge of the area and ensure the points returned to Cannon Park.

Near the end of the game, Hatfield could have had his hat-trick after breaking through the Lincoln defence, his strike was blocked by Herrick, and his second attempt from a tight angle was saved, but it was job done as far as Retford were concerned, three points and extending the lead at the top of the table as they go into the New Year.

The next match sees Retford take on fellow promotion hopefuls Parkgate FC at Cannon Park on Monday 2nd January (3pm).

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