Retford United 1 Garforth 3

Garforth's excellent form continued as goals from Mark Simpson (2) and a Sean Hunter penalty lifted us up to 8th in the table.

Rob Hunter's side enjoyed the lion's share of the chances in the first half with the home defence struggling to handle our pace up front Luke McCrum struck wide at the back post on three minutes when supplied by Lee Turner, before Turner himself shot wide from 20 yards four mins later after some good play down the left. Retford 's first chance of the game arrived on 9 mins; Joshua Raby firing over the bar after Jack Walters was dispossessed on the edge of the box. On 17 mins Paul Hagreen claimed Niall Sultan's 20 yarder, although in truth Hagreen wouldn't be seriously tested in the first half by the Badgers who lacked conviction in the final third.

Two minutes later Mitch Hamilton found the net from close range after Vincent Dhesi's free-kick was headed down at the far post by McCrum, but the offside flag was raised. Hamilton was denied again on 23 mins by United keeper Nathan Addlesee and two mins later Mark Simpson was unlucky after doing brilliantly to create space in a crowded box, firing against the underside of the crossbar. Town just needed the finish and it was duly provided by our top scorer when he was put through by Hamilton on 29 mins to slot home low past Addlesee.

Walters wasted a good chance to equalize for the home side from Liam Wood's delivery six minutes later, but fired over the bar. On 39 mins though it was 2-0 when Addlesee sliced Daniel Vincent's pass-back straight to Simpson who took the ball past the embarrassed keeper and rolled into the empty net.

Just before half time Simpson almost grabbed his hattrick when another break forward saw Addlesee parry Hamilton's shot into his path, but a defender managed to scrambled the ball away.

Our last couple of visits to this ground have seen the home side step up a gear second half and this one was to be no different. James Warwick-Adams tried his luck with a dipping effort from 25 yards which landed just over the bar. On 54 mins there was another chance for Simpson to claim the match ball when Hamilton's free-kick was spilled by Addlesee straight to him, but he swung at thin air allowing the defence to recover.

On 57 mins the Badgers got themselves back in the game when Walters beat Jamie Allsop on the left and delivered to Simon Mowbray who fired home past Hagreen. Predictably there were further chances for the home side who were causing problems down our right; Sultan's drive claimed by Hagreen on 59 mins before Liam Wood skied over the bar from a good position two mins later.

In response Rob Hunter steadied the ship by introducing the height and physical presence of Simon Poole and Adam Turner, replacing Allsop and Hamilton respectively. Just before then, Simpson was on the end of another Hamilton through ball on 66 mins, but Addlesee had already spotted the danger and rushed out of his goal to claim. Adam Turner was straight in on the chances, his header from Dhesi's corner turned wide by a defender, before Lee Turner was picked out at the back post by McCrum but couldn't get his foot around the ball and skewed wide. Adam Turner continued to be a handful for the home defence and a couple more chances followed, but without really testing Addlesee. He did however earn a penalty when he was tripped by Sam Tully in the box deep into injury time. Sub Sean Hunter again stepped up to take it and tucked away underneath the dive of Addlesee. That proved to be the last kick of the game and his side were able to enjoy a third consecutive away win.

The Miners are next in action this Saturday, when we travel deeper into Sherwood Forest Country to visit Rainworth (kick-off 3pm).