Home Sports Football Mexborough Town 1, Retford Town 1 – This is No Time For ‘Off’ Games

Mexborough Town 1, Retford Town 1 – This is No Time For ‘Off’ Games

April 1969

South Yorkshire Times, April 26th 1969

Yorkshire League

This is No Time For ‘Off’ Games

Mexborough Town 1, Retford Town 1

At a time when Mexborough Town cannot afford to make a slip If they are to hold any hope of catching Kiveton, they gave a performance at Hampden Road on Saturday evening which was slipshod, ineffective, and totally out of character. The Ions of this point is a sad blow to championship aspirations.

Every team has one of these days at some time, and for Town it was Saturday.

A good start with the attack finding the space and the defence in control, petered out as Mexborough showed a surprising lack of intelligence, constantly throwing up the high balls against a defence which always had command in the air. Retford were one down before they had settled to the task, Cullen volleying in an opportunist goal when a lucky rebound gave him the chance. At this stage it was all Town, with Colley and 4Arciod linking with Glossop and Toyne to give the visitors something to think about, and the promise of a good victory.

Alas, it was not to be. The goal produced lethargy instead of renewed vigour, and although Retford never created a real chance, an inept display from the Town attack let them off the hook.

Solid

Cooke, Bower and Iggo were as solid as ever at the back, but the midfield was lost as Town began to punt hopeful high balls down the middle, and the passing became erratic to say the least. The number of times that Terry Glossop, faced with a six-footer at half back and a tall full-back was expected to win a long high ball were so numerous it was unbelievable.

Retford played the second spell with much more composure, and equalised after 50 minutes, when Cartwright hooked in a cross from Shenton. Mal Brunt made a despairing dive, but could not quite keep the shot out.

Still, Town had the chances to win the match, but both Cullen and Parker shot wide when it would have been easier to score. Goalkeeper Gray had little trouble as corners and crosses floated into his arms with surprising regularity and as the match wore on it became more and more obvious that Town were not going to regain the form which has made them the most feared outfit in the league. It was a game Mexborough will want to forget.

Team: Mexborough : Brunt, Cooke, Iggo, Colley, Bower, Wood, Glossop, Toyne, Parker, Cullen, Steele.