Retford FC, Champions of their Universe.

Having visited Retford United earlier in the season it was time to visit Retford FC who needed two more points to become Champions of the Abacus Lighting Central Midland League North Division. Their opponents were Appleby Frodingham FC from Scunthorpe who have been playing for just over 30 years in their current guise with a team of a similar name having been started in the 1940’s.

Retford are even younger than Appleby Frodingham formed in 2015 and have played at their ground ‘The Rail’ since 2017. The ground is developing and as yet with little cover or seating but with the strides that are being made you expect new developments shortly. The grounds name is very apt with the main East Coast rail line passing down one side.

The pitch is mainly flat but with some bumpy areas and  has good grass cover. The dry, cloudy, windless day was ideal for playing football. A crowd of 262 was present and there was a good mix of ages and gender.

Retford FC 4 Appleby Frodingham 0

The pattern of the game soon became set as the younger more energetic Retford team took control and on 12 minutes No9 turned in the penalty area and was tripped with the resulting penalty being dispatched efficiently to the right of the static goalkeeper by Gareth Davies.

The  post and bar denied Retford a bigger lead until the 29th minute when Graeme Severn met a corner from the left and it was 2 nil, which it remained until half time.

Retford continued their domination but it wasn’t until the 80th minute that Gareth Davies  made it 3 nil, again from a penalty and again awarded for a foul on number 9.

A fourth was added by Jack Johnson on 89 minutes latching onto a cross from the the right, the ball deflecting of an opposition defender into the net.

The referee blew the final whistle dead on 90 minutes which cued wild celebrations by the team on becoming Champions having lost only once in the League campaign with one game left to play. New horizons for next year and who knows how far this new energetic club can go.

The sign says it all, ‘No chips today’.