Ollerton Stunned In Seven Goal Thriller

Ollerton Town made the short trip to Retford United on Saturday hoping to get a win and turn their form around and really kick on ahead of a difficult few weeks however that wasn’t to be as Retford, bottom of the league without a Manager, stunned Dave Winter’s side, winning 4-3 despite going down to ten men.
Ollerton quickly took the lead after only two minutes. Lewis Bingham, back in the side following the Great North Run, found himself with the ball on the left wing. Looking up he curled an exquisite ball towards the backpost where Sean Dickinson was on hand to finish past a helpless James Gamble in the Retford United goal.
The game continued with Ollerton in the ascendancy, dominating possession in the final third but without any real opportunities to note. A questionable decision by the referee to turn down Retford’s handball claim off Sam West was the only thing to excite the fans and spark controversy.
Retford’s first real chance came shortly afterwards. The ball broke to Kyle Wesley on the edge of the area who skewed his effort wide when he really should have done a lot better, with the ball finishing closer to the corner flag than the goal.
The next opportunity fell to Ollerton in the shape of Grant Tobin. Bingham did well to get away from his man, but as he cut back inside he held onto the ball a second to long and as he passed it on to Tobin he was closed down immediately and the chance was snuffed out. Another chance was soon to follow for Ollerton as the ball was chipped over the Retford United defence to Sean Dickinson, who rounded the goalkeeper but his little pass to Bingham was deemed to be offside and the goal was disallowed.
As the half hour mark approached Retford were awarded a penalty. Sam West penalised for a handling offence, this one appeared harsh on the fullback, the ball bouncing up onto his hand from his knee. The referee waved away any protests and Nathan Joynes scuffed his penalty down the middle and into the net to make it 1-1.
Another contentious decision came shortly after. The Ollerton players were up in arms to have their own penalty appeal turned down, with shouts regarding consistency in decision making coming from Ollerton players, supporters and the dugout.
However the referee was soon to make a decision that should have proved beneficial to Ollerton. Scott Wesley received a red card after around thirty five minutes for his second bookable offence. The referee, in truth could have sent him off earlier, as shown by the referee pointing at the location of all of his fouls throughout the game.
Retford United then proceeded to take the lead. A ball was chipped over the Ollerton back line towards Lee Betts who beat Sam West for pace and strength before hammering the ball towards goal and inside the near post to make it 2-1 to the hosts.
Shortly afterwards Retford extended their lead. Another ball over the top to Kilmczack who beat the onrushing Alex Smith to the ball and finished into the bottom corner from range into an unguarded net.
At half time with his side 3-1 down, Winter made all three of his changes, bringing off Sam Stretton and the Tobin brothers, to be replaced by Mark Carter, Ashley Shannon and Kyle Clarkson in a change of shape to try and pull something back. It nearly paid off straight away, as Clarkson picked up the ball on the right-hand side, curling the ball in towards Bingham who had his effort cleared off the line.
Things then went from bad to worse as Kilmczack picked up the ball on the edge of the area and finished low into the bottom left corner to extend Retford’s lead to 4-1.
Ollerton the found themselves with another chance to pull a goal back, as an incisive break away lead to the ball coming out towards Clarkson on the edge of the area who was unlucky to volley just over the bar from just inside the area.
Half time substitute Ashley Shannon was not enjoying his return to Retford United, his former club, but he managed to pick up an assist as Ollerton attempted to make a late comeback. A weaving run from the left wing towards the centre of the park beat a few defenders, his looping cross was met by the head of Ben Bowring and the ball just managed to go inside the far post to make it 4-2.
At this point late in the game Ollerton were again dominating, Retford were tiring as the game drew to a close with them having only ten men to hold off the Ollerton attackers, and they failed one more time. As the ball broke to Gav King in the area following a goal mouth scramble, he slotted home a real poachers effort to make it 4-3.
There was to be no more late drama as Retford held on for the win. Ollerton are now six without a win after four successive victories to open the campaign. They need to find a change in fortune soon to avoid another relegation scrap, with Grimsby Borough up next on Wednesday night.