Glapwell 0 Retford 1
Monday 13th April

For the first time this season, I was actually nervous before this game. Glapwell is an unassuming place, uninspiring in pretty much every way. I don't much like it, and I don't much like the people either. I didn't like it when we went there in the old NCEL days, and I haven't changed my opinion in the intervening years when soap operas and fixture lists have forced me to frequent one of my more local clubs.

As it turned out, I needn't have worried. My most recent visit to Hall Corner saw a poor Glapwell barely break a sweat to turn over a very poor Willenhall. But today, only was the crowd noticeably different (162, stats fans. Mostly Badgers I should add). The football played remained at quite a shockingly poor level, and the imperious Retford back line never truly looked in trouble, save for one chance in the first half where Turner came to their rescue. Ford and Bettney ran the shop in the middle, whilst Godber and Marrison battled manfully, with scarce protection, upfront. When the goal came, early in the second half, it was no more than was deserved. Ford got on the end of some inditrious work from Owens and bundled the ball past the far post. Cue raucous celebrations from the massed (reltively) ranks of gathered Badgers, only heightened by the news that Belper were losing 5-1 at Carlton. Five one!!!

Needless to say the remaining thirty minutes or so was a little nervy, albeit only fleetingly with any real cause. With the final whistle came the celebrations one might expect of a club, and a team, that has battled harder than it wanted to all season. Our destiny was back in our hands, and surely we're not going to let it slip out of them again?