Brighouse beat the Badgers

As Badgers returned home empty handed, Bridlington Town moved top of the division thanks to their late win over Liversedge.

The afternoon didn’t get off to the best start for Retford, as the team were delayed by traffic on their way to the game.

Once at the ground and on the pitch, they were under early pressure and keeper Jason Fisher had to be alert to block Antony Haigh’s near post effort.

Despite half chances for both sides, it wasn’t until the 35th minute that the deadlock was broken.

Danny Hull go past Corey Nightingale and fired past Fisher to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

In the second half Badgers tried to hit back through Warren Hatfield then Carl Haslam, but both forwards were frustrated as Brighouse stood firm.

On the hour mark it was 2-0, Tom Mathews getting the final touch after a poor clearance put him in on goal and Fisher blocked his first effort.

Things could have got worse for the Badgers when Lee Mellon ran into Mathews in the box, but the referee said no to the home side’s penalty appeals.

The Brighouse man wasn’t to be denied on 73 minutes however as Fisher spilled his shot and he followed up to score the game’s third and his second.

His afternoon ended on a real high as just two minutes later he tapped in to secure a hat-trick and send Badgers, who were described as ‘lacklustre’ by boss Brett Marshall, home disappointed.

United travel to Armthorpe Welfare next Saturday in the league.