Depleted ladies side hit five

This was the first time the ladies had kicked a ball in over a month due to the weather halting matches and training.

They also had to contend with the absence of seven players due to injury and health problems, and only 10 of the squad walked onto the pitch, most of them out of their usual position.

Danni Tindall bravely volunteered to pull on the goalkeeper shirt and had to borrow gloves from the opposition.

Bianca Wilson swapped her striker role to that of a right-back, pushing captain Lauren Cundy into the middle of the back four to partner Katie Glynn.

Emma Foulds, club secretary, took up her post on the right wing after only playing a total 10 minutes this season.

Mansfield opened the score within five minutes after a messy goalmouth scramble.

And the hosts went further ahead after a backpass went awry.

United could have been forgiven for dropping their heads, but Cundy and Glynn closed the doors at the back and supported the midfield.

With Lydia White winning everything, Retford began to dominate and it was only inevitable they would finally be rewarded with a goal as Hayley Revill found the net from close range.

The most rewarding goal of the game came through Foulds when she netted from point blank range.

After the interval fears of tired legs, and uphill play allowing Mansfield back into the game were soon diminished when Revill found the net again, shortly followed by two strikes from Helen Corry, who absolutely ruled the left wing with her speed and skill.

Retford returned home victorious not just with a great 5-2 result against the odds, but with a much improved team spirit and belief of better times to come this season.

Revill was awarded Man of the Match by Mansfield, truly deserved as the lone striker, but credit has to go to Lydia White with an inspiring performance in midfield and to Danni Tindall for a courageous and entertaining stand between the sticks.