Phoenix FC 0-5 Retford United
After not playing since the 3rd November it was an exciting day for both players and fans. The Badgers were to face Phoenix FC, a side struggling to hit form, while the Badgers were hoping to continue their very good spell.
The whistle was blown and we were underway. The Phoenix players seemed well up for the game as they pressed forward. The Badgers were nearly undone in the first few minutes but Stuart Ludlum made a great challenge to halt the attack. Retford controlled the majority of the possession in the first half, recycling the ball through the midfield to the defence and then into the attack. It was like we’d never stopped playing. The Badgers got their first on the 17th minute through a Mason Barlow corner which was nodded in by the League’s top scorer, Mark West. Unfortunately later in the half, West got injured after a nasty challenge from a Phoenix defender. He stayed on, but didn’t look right for the rest of the game. A few missed chances went astray before the half was adjourned. The Badgers should’ve been up by more than one at the break, the game was still to be won.
Just a few minutes into the second half West came off and was replaced by Sam Foulds. The new signing didn’t waste any time making an impression. Adam Daughtrey played a looping ball through to Foulds who dribbled the ball a good twenty yards before putting it past the keeper. A nice cool finish into the bottom right corner. From then on the Badgers were in cruise control. With three Phoenix players around him Mason Barlow managed to play a ball through to Igor Mlynarksi on the left side. Mlynarski curled it into the far right corner of the goal. Two minutes later Dean Conway grabbed a fourth as he headed it in at the far post. Conway celebrated in style as he had unluckily missed a few big chances before this. Danny Abdulla and Brandon Kane were pulling all the strings winning the midfield battles, therefore making it easy for the Badgers forwards. The Badgers were given a penalty with less than 15 to go. Mason Barlow stepped up and buried the penalty. The defence of Swales, Ludlum and Paling did very well when called upon. You couldn’t fault a single Badgers player on the day, all had great performances.
It was a great way to finish 2020, a year that wasn’t the best for many reasons. Man of the Match was awarded to Mason Barlow after he bagged a few assists and registered his first goal for the club. Stay safe everyone, We’ll announce our next game when we know a date and who we’re playing.
“Up the Badgers”