Team - Campbell, Leeson, Lyth, Hassan, Ingram, Hanson, Dalton (Gildea L), Hackworth (Charlton), Campbell (Yale), Beadle, Scott.
Subs Not Used: Gildea A, Escritt.
Report - by Andrew Snaith - First half goals from Leon Scott and Andy Leeson extended the Blues' run of unbeaten league games to seven against second-placed-side Retford, who themselves had just one defeat in 12 away from home going into Saturday's clash.
Manager Harry Dunn made one enforced change from the Whitby team that won their last Unibond Premier outing 3-1 against Hucknall, with Kevin Burgess suspended, experienced fellow-defender Denny Ingram was a ready-made replacement. The high-flying Badgers showed first when a diving Christian Hanson header set up a corner which Whitby keeper Dave Campbell did well to cling onto bravely amid the swinging studs in a crowded Town six yard box. However, the Seasiders were ahead inside ten minutes, after a defensive error allowed the ball to be pulled back for Leon Scott, who committed himself to the Blues for the rest of the season in midweek, to drill home from close range in a crowded Retford area.
Ged Dalton was causing no end of problems to the Badgers' backline, with three rash lunges bringing three yellow cards for visiting defenders within the opening 23 minutes. Dalton tied skipper Michael Simpkins in knots before firing just wide, but it was on-loan Andy Campbell, whose signature is still sought by Dunn long-term who should have doubled Town's lead after a dreadful sliced clearance from goalkeeper James Lindley. The ex-Notts County goalie's kick fell straight to the former Middlesbrough marksman who looked poised to slot home, only for Lindley to reacting brilliantly to dive in and somehow grab the ball back.
Scott came close after a storming run from the halfway line, and the blue tide finally told in the final minute of the first half. Referee Mr Clayton from Newton Aycliffe played a fine offside after Dalton was flattened by Simpkins but got up before his marker and forced Lindley to parry at his near post, Tony Hackworth's shot from the rebound was then blocked but only as far as Leeson who slotted home his second Whitby goal from point blank range.
After a few stern words no-doubt from Middlesbrough-born manager Peter Duffield, the visitors threw everything forward at the start of the second half. The Badgers, roared on by a noisy bass drummer in the main stand with matching cow bell, forced a succession of corners, with Dave Campbell and his defence bravely flinging themselves in front of any incoming efforts on goal.
At the other end, Hackworth's surge forward ending in an angled goalbound drive which forced Lindley to save well. Ten minutes from time, Dalton's mazy run saw the ex-Carlisle starlet slalom around several defenders but saw an unconvincing shot from the edge of the box blocked by the legs of a covering opponent. A minute from time, Retford number nine Daryll Thomas summed up the Notts side's day by poking a weak low effort goalwards that Campbell saved comfortably low down.
Dalton was star of the show and deservedly took Town's man of the match plaudits, but in an equally appropriate move, the youngster presented his champagne award to groundsman Eric Wilson. Blues' boss Harry Dunn explained that the Town stalwart's considerable efforts to make the heavy pitch playable, including the digging of a trench by the side of the pitch to lay drainage piping, inspired the players and they decided pre-match to direct their bottle of plonk his way.
Dunn added: "I'm obviously delighted. Retford have an excellent away record, it was a cracking game of football and their lad made some cracking saves. We had defending to do early in the second half but we did that well and I couldn't complain about anybody in our team."
