UP NEXT, after two losses against ex-step four teams, it's back to cup action as we welcome Retford United to Greenwich Avenue in the second round of the county cup.

Kimberley Miners Welfare go into the match having been defeated in the FA Vase at the weekend, although the loss was still only their sixth all season. The result may act as motivation for tonight’s cup match against an opposition who are flying in the division below and have already faced the miners just ten days ago in a narrow league cup match. Having been sternly tested the last time around, the Miners will have to be at the absolute top of their game in this match.

Retford United slipped to fourth in the United Counties League Division One having lost last Tuesday for just the third time this season. A loss in the league to South Normanton Athletic was followed by progression in the FA Vase with victory on Saturday.

Last weekend, Kimberley travelled to Stoke-on-Trent to face Hanley Town in the FA Vase. The hosts, having lost just once all season in the FA Cup against higher league opposition, were dominant from the start. The hosts took an early lead through Jack Van Der Laan on twenty four minutes to go into half time a goal up. The lead was doubled on the hour mark through Lewis Porter before Sacha Markelic somehow grabbed a goal back for Kimberley as his mis-hit cross wasn’t read by the home goalkeeper and sailed into the back of the net with six minutes remaining. Any fightback was quashed just a minute later as Sam Finney scored a third for Hanley.
Final Score - Hanley Town 3-1 KMW.

Retford United were also in FA Vase action on Saturday as they welcomed Aylestone Park. The home side went into the break a goal up through Josh Devereux. Riley O’Sullivan equalised on the hour before Callum Orange peeled away and scored the winner six minutes later.
Final Score - Retford United 2-1 Aylestone Park

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was founded in 1987 by Retfordian Brian Jackson to give the town a senior club after Retford Town had gone out of business. The club’s inaugural season was in the Gainsborough & District League which was successful so it applied to join the Notts Football Alliance the following season and competed in that league up until 2001, when they joined the Central Midlands League. Just three years passed before another milestone was reached and the club joined the Northern Counties East League.

The success continued, finishing as runners-up in the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2005–06, gaining promotion to the Premier Division, which they won at their first attempt. They were then promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One South, which they won two years running, gaining promotion to the Premier Division in 2009. In all, between 2000 and 2009, they won a total of six championships, of various leagues and divisions, in nine seasons.

However, at the end of the 2010–11 season they finished bottom and were relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One South. Due to financial constraints, the club opted to resign from the Northern Premier League and to compete in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division where they again won the title in the 2011/12 season but they rejected promotion opting instead to continue in NCEL.

Retford reached the fifth round (last 16) of the FA Vase in the 2006–07 season, while their best run in the FA Cup has consisted of one appearance in the fourth qualifying round, in the 2008–09 season, where they were defeated 3–1 by Alfreton Town. Their first season in the FA Trophy in 2007–08 took them to the first round where they were defeated 5–2 by Histon. Retford were relegated from the 1st division of the NCEL at the end of season 2017-2018 and now play in the Central Midlands North League.

In 2018 the football club was acquired by One Call Insurance and with the help of Chairman Nik Springthorpe is now a limited company and has been transformed following a complete refurbishment of the clubhouse, changing rooms and the outside areas at their home ground. In June 2022, former player and Badgers legend Ryan Hindley took the reigns and has high hopes for the future of the club and hopes to propel United back up the pyramid.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The two sides met just ten days ago in the league cup, again at Basford. A tight match saw Fin Ryder make the breakthrough midway through the first half. Retford United pressed throughout the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser in the ninety sixth minute to take the match to penalties. Kimberley progressed into the next round with a 7-6 win from the spot.
Final Score - Kimberley Miners Welfare 1-1 Retford United (Kimberley win 7-6 on penalties)

FINALLY

Both sides will be doing all they can to progress into the next round of the county cup. Kimberley will want to get back on track after two losses in a row for the first time this season. Retford United will want revenge for the recent league cup exit.

This makes for a very interesting and exciting match in prospect.

Kick off is at 20:00

See you there