Retford: United at full power with seven goals in two games

Clipston were despatched 4-0 with four first-half goals, while Worsborough were seen off 3-1 in a game that was over as a contest after an hour.

Both results will have impressed United boss Paul Ward as he looks to finalise his starting XI for their opening Toolstation Northern Counties East League game at Athersley Recreation on the 9th August.

Against Clipstone, Retford threatened from the start as Liam Gaughan saw a header saved by the keeper in the first minute.

Reece Thompson then fired a cross-shot wide before a good move started by Bobby Johnson found Steph Cairns who crossed for Ben Muirhead to control and play to Thompson who headed over.

Nathan Millington had a good chance for Clipstone, but his effort was wide of Tom Fuller’s upright.

On 19 minutes, Retford took the lead, Cairns finding Muirhead who under challenge did well to slot the ball low past the keeper into the bottom corner.

Clipstone looked for an immediate response, Matt Austin putting in a cross that missed everyone, and that proved costly as Retford extended the lead on 27 minutes through a superb strike from Thompson.

Two minutes later, Retford had a third when a header by Liam Wilkin was palmed away by the keeper, but Muirhead was on hand to collect his second of the game.

The scoring was complete on 34 minutes when Wilkin unleashed an unstoppable strike from distance for the goal fo the game.

The second half saw Clipstone step up and keep the United attack at bay, but they couldn’t find a goal to get back into it, and Retford ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Victory over Clipstone came on the back on a impressive 3-1 success against Worsborough Bridge.

An electric start saw Thompson put Retford ahead after only 40 seconds, following good work by Johnson and Wilkin.

Worsborough levelled after five minutes as a scuffed shot somehow got past James Hitchcock in the Retford net.

However Retford were back in front on 19 minutes with another from Thompson, who made the most of a quick throw-in from the left to cut inside and fire past the keeper.

United were unlucky after Johnson’s free-kick crashed against the post and Wilkin was ruled offside when he followed up to net the rebound.

But Wilkin did make it 3-1 on the hour to wrap up the victory.