The last game of the year and also the last game of the decade at Cannon Park was certainly one to remember. Retford made 4 changes from the cup game against Woodhouse Colts, Lawrence pushed up the field into right mid, with Swales slotting into right-back. Walters started at left-back a position he has really flourished in recently. Aaron Fell returned and Dean Conway started up front with Mark West. A very strong side and they showed this right from the off. West nearly opened the scoring in the first minute when Fell had made a great run down the right hand side, overlapping Lawrence, he swung the cross into West where he attempted a bicycle kick. The shot was saved at close range by the keeper.
The Sutton defense held Retford at bay for a whole 13 minutes until the inevitable happened. Another attack came down the right side, but this time Lawrence was on his own, he managed to swerve the Sutton challenges and then had time to cross the ball. He picked out Conway at the back post, who didn’t struggle one bit. He smashed the ball on the volley at the near post and the keeper had no chance, Retford were ahead on the thirteenth minute.
It didn’t stop there for Retford or Conway. Just two minutes later Dean dribbled the ball towards the box, taking two defenders with him. With great agility he cut inside, beating both defenders and leaving him one on one with the Sutton keeper. Conway lent back and shot. The ball went over the keeper and just tucked under the bar, hitting the top of the net. What a goal. The relentless attacks from Retford continued and Conway managed to bag his Hat-trick on the 19th minute when the ball arrived at his feet once again in the box. This means he had scored a 6 minute Hat-trick, proving his nickname of Ginger Jesus was actually true
Mark West joined the party when Dean laid him off in the box and with a very tidy finish put in right under the keeper putting Retford 4-0 up at the break. A very dominant first half performance from the Badgers. It wasn’t just the attacker’s doing the work. Fell and Kane won every battle in the middle making it easy for them to control the play. And the defense dealt with the Sutton breaks and got the ball out wide to Mlynarski and Lawrence who could supply the ball into the middle.
The second half continued in the same way, only three minutes in West had his second and Retford’s fifth. This came from the Goalkeeper rushing off of his line and getting down to the ball but West saw him doing this, so decided to dink it over him. West was replaced on the 62nd minute for Zach Casburn, who made an instant impact by running at the already tired Sutton defenders. He dashed down the left and put a low cross into the box where Conway was unmarked. Conway side footed the ball into the goal to make it 6-0. A minute later Mitch Wain grabbed a consolation for Sutton and what a goal that was. The opposition player flicked it up for himself and hit it on the volley into the top right corner. In the minutes remaining both teams had some more chances but neither scored anymore.
Full time Retford United 6-1 Sutton Rovers. The Badgers have now won all 4 games in December and have moved up to 4th in the table. 3rd place Harworth lost 1-0 to Phoenix making the points level however they have a better goal difference. Man of the Match was an easy decision for Liam to make with Dean Conway scoring 4. We hope to carry on this form in the New Year, up the Badgers.