Back to back goal-less draws for the Choughs who were unable to capitalise on their superior league position but maintained a four point lead over their visitors.

Retford remain in the hunt for a striker and they therefore can’t afford to miss chances when they come. Sadly that’s exactly what they did in this game. With injuries and unavailability also an issue, Martin Woodhead came in at left back, Oliver Bilham came into the back three and new signing Jake Scott started in midfield.

The best chance of the game for either side came very early as Jake Scott sent Adam Scott clear of the defence and having done the hard work to round the keeper, Retford’s leading scorer lifted the ball over the bar.

Armthorpe though had most of the pressure in the opening 20 minutes and confusion reigned when Retford cleared a corner only for the referee to award a free kick on the edge of the box for what looked like a clean tackle. It initially looked like the referee had given a penalty, not the only time the match official would be centre stage during the afternoon.

One thing Retford were prepared to do was put bodies on the line to make sure the visitors didn't break through and they did just that with great blocks from Liam Bennett and Tom Burgin.

Just before half time the Choughs almost took the lead through centre half Bennett as he met a great delivery from Goddard’s free kick but headed just over.

The second half saw both sides fail to create any real chances and a host of baffling decisions from the referee added to the frustrations of both sides, with the flow of the game constantly interrupted.

The biggest incident of the half saw Retford’s Gaz Davies (on as a half time sub) and Armthorpe’s Jordan Linley both dismissed. Davies was dismissed for a tackle which saw him make no contact with the man and win the ball, Linley was dismissed for retaliation, although what he actually did no-one could put their fingers on. In fact the only actual aggressive incident went completely unpunished as one of the Armthorpe players doubled over Adam Scott with a punch right under the nose of the gathered officials.

In truth both sides just needed a talking to and a chance to calm down in what was a frustrating affair that neither the weather or the officiating did anything to help. The game lacked little quality and Retford will need to find a way to complement one of the league’s best defences with goals if they are to finish in the top four this season.

Retford F.C.: Jon Kennedy (c), Martin Woodhead (Jack Johnson, 45), Haydn Goddard, Oliver Bilham, Liam Bennett, Tom Burgin (Tom Gilmore, 70), Adam Scott, Jake Scott, Matt Robinson, Will Tomlinson, Leon Larcombe-Loftus (Gareth Davies, 45).

Unused sub: Kian Goodall.

Armthorpe Welfare: Alfie Stevens-Neale, Tyler Walker, James Arnold, Jordan Linley, Lewis Moseley, Reece Lucas (William Ramsey, 49), Jordan Snodin, Craig Aspinall (Joshua Bowkett, 82), Adam Baskerville, Luke Williams, Joshua O’Neil.

Unused subs: Alan Jackson, Adam Lee