Under the eclipsed evening sun, Cannon Park provided a fantastic setting for our latest Northern Counties East League fixture, with Ryan Hindley making a handful of changes from Saturday’s FA Cup defeat away at AFC Mansfield. Ashall and Buckthorp were among those handed starts as we looked to continue our positive start to the league campaign.

The opening stages were evenly contested, with both sides enjoying good spells of possession without creating too much in front of goal. That changed in the 22nd minute when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after a handball inside our area. There could be few complaints about the decision, but Harvey Woodward gave us an opportunity to escape unharmed as our number one got down superbly to save the resulting spot kick.

Unfortunately, before we could celebrate the save, Knaresborough reacted quickest to the rebound and fired the loose ball into the opposite corner to give the visitors the lead. The goal completely changed the momentum of the game.

Straight from the restart, Knaresborough were back on the front foot and began making it increasingly difficult for us to play our way out of our own half. Woodward was called into action again just minutes later, producing another strong save to keep the deficit at one. By the 29th minute, however, the visitors had doubled their advantage. A slick attacking move from an energetic Knaresborough side opened us up and was finished clinically to leave us with a mountain to climb.

We responded well and began to work our way back into the contest as the first half progressed. Carlton Carty looked to have a strong claim for a penalty after being brought down inside the area, but nothing was given.

Just as it looked as though we would head into the dressing room two goals behind, Knaresborough struck again seconds before the half-time whistle. At 3-0, the game had suddenly become an enormous challenge. It is difficult to remember the last time we found ourselves two goals behind at the break at Cannon Park, never mind three, and a huge reaction was required after half-time.

Hindley turned to the bench early in the second period, making four changes in the 53rd minute, including introductions for new boys Voskresenskis and Tomlinson. The changes gave us a different dimension and, for the first time in the game, we began to take control.

Oliver Wilson came agonisingly close to pulling one back in the 64th minute when his effort struck the post. Seconds later, we felt we had another strong penalty appeal when the ball appeared to strike a Knaresborough hand inside the area, but again the referee waved play on.

The pressure finally told in the 65th minute. Zander Duhameau found the breakthrough to make it 3-1 and suddenly there was a belief around Cannon Park that a comeback might still be possible. From there, we continued to push forward and created further opportunities as Knaresborough were forced onto the back foot. It was a completely different performance to the opening 45 minutes, but despite our pressure, the second goal we needed to really ignite the comeback would not arrive.

It was ultimately a game of two halves. Knaresborough were excellent in the opening period and punished us clinically when their opportunities arrived. We produced the reaction we wanted after the break and created enough chances to make things interesting, but the damage had already been done.

The visitors’ clinical finishing proved to be the difference and they deservedly left Cannon Park with the three points.

There is little time to dwell on the result, with another big league fixture quickly approaching. We remain at Cannon Park this Saturday when we welcome currently second-placed Bottesford Town. After a difficult night, we will need another response and we will need you behind us.

We will need your support, Badgers.

Retford United FC Limited Company: 11388953
Club Registered Number: OC348147 | Owner: Nicholas Springthorpe