Badgers fight back to beat Maltby

Brett Marshall gave a debut to Karl Slack, who had competed a suspension earned with his former club Bottesford Town.

The match started slowly, and took more than five minutes for an effort on goal, Carl Haslam looking to cross the ball into the area, but he had too much power on it and it sailed out for a throw in on the opposite side.

Maltby went close with a corner that Lee Mellon had to hook clear, then Retford built out on the flank, Haslam cut inside the box but his shot was blocked.

United took the lead on 19 minutes, Steve Carty’s 35-year effort looping over the Main keeper and into the net.

Maltby levelled on 32 minutes, Rob Branagan meeting a corner from the right to make it 1-1.

As the first half ended Steve Adams’ Maltby men were on top, winning four corners in succession but failing to make them count.

Retford piled on the pressure early in the second half, but made little of it and Maltby took over.

On 68 minutes their control paid dividends, Thomas Foltym-Brown firing the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Things got worse before they got better for Retford, as Ricky Chambers conceded a spot-kick and Scott Mellon converted for a 3-1 scoreline.

But in the last 10 minutes United came back, Haslam heading home Warren Hatfield’s cross to reduce the deficit.

On 88 minutes Slack brought Retford level from the edge of the box, and incredibly there was enough time for Haslam to pull the trigger from 18 yards and send the Badgers supporters into raptures with a vital three points.

The result gave United back their top spot in the NCEL Premier Division, while Maltby remain second from bottom.