Official Frickley Athletic Website 

www.frickleyafc.co.uk

Saturday 9th August - Frickley Athletic 0-2 Retford United

Two goals in the last four minutes led to Frickley's downfall in this last pre-season friendly and left manager Billy Heath with a poser or two.

Retford are the reigning Division 1 champions, and only failed to gain a Unibond Premier spot due to their ground not meeting the required criteria, while they are managed by Peter Duffield, who had a loan spell with the Blues two seasons ago.

Although the defence seemed able to cope with a lively United attack, Frickley could not muster any fire power up front and it was the visitors who called the tune, Mick Godber going close in the third minute while Adam Nicklin reacted quickly to snatch the ball off Stewart Copnell's toes in the 28th minute.

The ball switched rapidly to the other end where Chris Davies put a first time volley inches wide.

There was an immediate improvement by the Blues after the interval, a curling cross from Davies in the 49th minute being headed back by Rob Pell and the ball cleared off the line.

Copnell had a shot blocked by Jon Hood in the 52nd minute and Godber put the rebound into the side netting, while Davies had a 30 yard drive well held by United keeper Chris Kingston two minutes later.

Chasing a ball down the left on the hour, Neil Towler cut inside but was fouled, and Davies's free-kick was headed down by Dean Jones at the far post although it went wide.

Copnell beat the off-side trap a minute later, only to be foiled by a full length save from Hood.

In the 65th minute, Scott Brough rounded his man on the right and whipped in a cross which Stuart Ludlam managed to clear under pressure from Lee Morris.

Billy Heath began to ring the changes in an effort to pierce the visiting defence although Retford broke through Godber in the 69th minute and he found Copnell who hit the target but was ruled off-side.

A good run by Dean Wilburn in the 84th minute was halted by a foul, and Davies's free-kick was deflected behind while, from the flag kick, an angled header from Towler went just wide.

A mistake by Steve Robinson let in Godber who fired Retford ahead in the 86th minute, while Jonathan Groome gave away a foul on the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute and Ryan Ford gave Hood no chance with a blistering free-kick to complete the United tally.

Frickley Athletic : Adam Nicklin (Jon Hood 46min), Scott Brough (Jake White 78min), Chris Gowen (Adam Pollock 56min), Danny Walsh, Steve Heath (Steve Robinson 70min), Dean Jones (Jonathan Groome 63min), Chris Hilton (Shaun Pierpoint 78min), Chris Davies, Lee Morris (Adam Lee 72min), Rob Pell (Dean Wilburn 75min), Calum Selby (Neil Towler 53min).

Retford United : Chris Kingston (Paul Keeling 80min), Stuart Ludlam, Dan White (Neil Tooth 88min), Ryan Ford, Jamie Simpkins, Michael Simpkins, Ollie Chappell (Ryan Hindley 61min), Luke Staton , Mick Godber (Peter Duffield 88min), Stewart Copnell, Steve Owens (Will Tomlinson 67min).

Referee : Elliott Kaye

Attendance : 116