It was a sweet victory for Retford at the weekend as they climbed a place in the table and scored four more goals in a game that saw three penalties and plenty of chances for both sides.
The visitors were quick off the mark with a chance in the opening couple of minutes, Adam Shaw unable to find the target from in front of goal that could have easily set the tone for the afternoon, however, Retford soon took hold of the game, George White making space on the right, his ball in unfortunately going out of play, then White combined with Adam Scott whose shot lacked the power and was easy for Joe Wilton in the Harrogate goal to collect.
Matt Parkin was the next Retford player to see their cross float out of play as the home side kept up the pressure, Scott only a whisker away as his shot across goal rolled agonisingly inches wide of the upright.
Haydn Goddard found White with the keeper having to come out of his area to clear the ball, shortly before Joe Crosby looked to attack for Harrogate, his shot going well over Jon Kennedy’s crossbar.
The visitors put Retford under pressure with a succession of corners, but they couldn’t make any of their chances count.
Parkin found White at the far post, stretching for the ball, he could only find the side netting, but this was the catalyst for the first goal, 23 minutes into the game, a superb run from deep in his own half by Parkin fed Scott who made no mistake as he found the target to open the scoring and add to his account.
A free kick won just outside the box was cleverly played through the middle of the defence by Goddard with Parkin running onto the ball but his chance was blocked by the legs of Wilton.
Alex Wonham could have doubled the lead, picking up the ball after Scott and Wilton clashed just outside the box, Wonham managing to get the ball over the keeper but was wide of the upright.
On the stroke of half time, Harrogate were level after a handball in the box by Severn gave them a penalty kick, Dan Thirkell netting from the spot to take the sides into the break on level terms.

The second half started with Retford on the attack again, a free kick was put over the wall, Matt Robinson getting into the box to score, but the flag had been lifted for offside so didn’t count.
There was a shout for a penalty for Retford when Jack Johnson was pushed over in the box but the shouts were waved away by the referee.
Harrogate kept pushing, a ball in was flicked on by Severn with Kennedy doing well to touch the ball away for a corner, the ball floated in with no one from Harrogate able to connect.
A second goal for Retford came on 54 minutes, fantastic work from Goddard and Wonham on the left led to Johnson getting the ball into the box with White lifting the ball over the keeper into the top corner to put the home side back in front.
The ball was worked into the box by Retford with Wonham twisting and turning to get into space for a shot, but he watched as it went just wide, Harrogate then made a break up field, a great header from a cross was tipped over by Kennedy.
Matt Parkin thought he had scored when Adam Scott’s ball found Parkin outside the box hitting a piledriver on the volley that crashed against the bar.
The visitors were pushing for a goal to get back into the game, but once again Kennedy was in place to stop the shot with another fine save.
With the game entering the last ten minutes, the game was all but over when Wilton manhandled Parkin in the area, this time the Referee pointing to the spot, Zach Casburn netting the penalty to give Retford a 3-1 lead.
Four minutes later, there was a fourth for Retford, a free kick on the edge of the box was curled over the wall and into the top corner by Scott for his brace and the three points to Retford, but the game still wasn’t over with the third penalty of the game coming on 90 minutes, a dubious handball in the box that only the Referee seemed to spot gave Harrogate a second goal but it was too little too late for the North Yorkshire side.

After the game, Chris Woodhead said “I’m so proud of the lads. They fully deserved the three points today. The club are lucky to have this group of players and they deserve all the credit tonight."