Retford United extended their unbeaten run to six games on Wednesday night, but were left frustrated after surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Handsworth at Cannon Park.
There was just one change to the starting line-up, with Alans Voskresenskis replacing Carlton Carty, who has joined up with Anguilla on international duty.
The Badgers could hardly have asked for a better start. Just 51 seconds were on the clock when Lewis Chambers raced through on goal, rounded the advancing goalkeeper and calmly rolled the ball home to give United an immediate advantage.
Chambers thought he had doubled the lead just seven minutes later, only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny him on the near side. Handsworth enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the opening half, but United remained organised and disciplined without the ball. The visitors struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut opportunities as the Badgers kept their shape and defended well.
Then, on 38 minutes, Chambers struck again. Another superb run opened up the Handsworth defence before the United forward unleashed a powerful effort beyond the goalkeeper to make it 2-0. Two big opportunities had fallen his way and both had been dispatched brilliantly.
After such a strong first half, the opening minutes of the second proved incredibly frustrating. Handsworth pulled one back from a corner in the 48th minute after a lapse in concentration from the Badgers defence. Just a minute later, the visitors were level. Following a controversial free-kick decision, the Handsworth goalkeeper restarted play quickly with an excellent long ball towards the edge of the United box. The resulting cross was turned past Harvey Woodward to make it 2-2.
Four minutes into the second half and United’s two-goal advantage had disappeared. The Badgers knew all about how quickly momentum can change in football after producing their own remarkable comeback against Barton Town just days earlier.
Both sides pushed for a winner as the game opened up, with opportunities arriving at either end. United also had a big penalty appeal waved away around the 70-minute mark when Chambers went down inside the area, but nothing was given.
Neither side could find the decisive goal and the points were eventually shared at Cannon Park. Chambers was named Man of the Match after scoring both United goals and producing another relentless performance leading the line. It may feel like two points dropped after being 2-0 ahead, but the bigger picture sees the Badgers now six games unbeaten.
Next up is a return to the road on Saturday as United travel to Campion for what feels like the first away fixture in quite some time.
Up the Badgers!
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