Moment of madness helps Rainworth cruise into county final

A fairly even tie was decided in the 40th minute when O’Neill was shown a straight red card for a two footed tackle.

The incident provoked reactions from both sides and from the resultant free kick Rainworth extended their lead.

The game was played in dry conditions, but the quick drying of a recently waterlogged surface had left it bumpy and the ball difficult to control.

The early exchanges were quite even and it wasn’t until the fifth minute that either side troubled the keepers.

It was Retford’s Reece Thompson who broke clear but his shot was well saved by James Martin.

Retford had a period of dominance and then Rainworth began to come to terms with the bumpy surface and forced Retford on the back foot.

Rainworth’s Jamie Clarke did get the ball in the Retford goal, but it was rightly disallowed for a foul on the keeper.

Then an incident that almost cost Rainworth a goal when, as they passed the ball upfield, it struck the referee and fell into the path of a Retford player.

The ball was quickly played to Thompson, who was through on goal, but Martin was quick off his line and made a fine save.

Rainworth quickly counter-attacked, the ball found Jack Hawkins and his shot went over the keeper and into the far corner to open the scoring.

This was the start of a period of Rainworth pressure, and in the 32nd minute Ashley Longstaff’s inviting cross was gratefully deflected by a defender into the keeper’s arms.

Then came the 40th minute incident that sealed the tie as O’Neill chased back and his two footed challenge left the referee with little choice but to show him a red card.

Such was the nature of the tackle that a melee followed and Rainworth’s Longstaff was shown a yellow card for his reaction to the incident.

From the resultant free kick, Retford were further punished as Scott Rickards found Regan Edridge and his downward header was gleefully hit into the net by Clarke.

The half-time whistle sounded shortly afterwards with Retford now down to 10 men and trailing 2-0.

Rainworth started the second half on the attack and Matt Bowles put Longstaff clear, but his shot cleared the crossbar.

Shortly afterwards Retford’s Richard Medcalf was shown a yellow card for another poor challenge.

The game ceased to be a contest in a two minute period when, in the 58th minute, Bowles found Longstaff, whose goal bound shot struck Clarke and found its way into the opposite corner of the goal.

A minute later Rickards found Longstaff, whose crisp shot found the bottom corner.

Rainworth were now dominating the game and, although Retford still had chance,s there was to be no way back.

The final action of the game saw Hawkins receive a yellow card for a crude challenge.

RAINWORTH: Martin; Gregory (Rogers 74), Dudley; Lloyd, Varley, Edridge, Rickards, Bowles, Longstaff (Forbes-Swindells 80), Clarke, Hawkins. Subs not used: Saunders.

REFEREE: Stuart Richardson.