Fleetwood Town 1 Retford United 1

Saturday November 3rd 2007 FA Carlsberg Trophy
Crowd: 505
Goal: FTFC: Steve Foster

Fleetwood Town stuttered their way to a disappointing draw, leaving them with a lengthy midweek trek to Nottingham for a second round FA Trophy replay. The drab spectacle was made worse by the incessant drumming of a section of musically challenged Retford supporters. Hopefully the Cod Army won't get any ideas. Football and mindless drumming just do not mix.

Town entered the interval 1-0 ahead, courtesy of a close range header by Steve Foster after Nathan Pond's header had rebounded to the ex Telford striker off the cross-bar. A fine spin and shot by Foster almost doubled the home side's advantage but seconds later Mike Hale had to be alert at the other end, the deputy for the  injured Danny Hurst making a fine save from point blank range when a goal seemed certain.

The second 45 minutes proved to be a dull affair, the match referee contributing to the malaise with an overly officious performance. Aside from a plethora of free kicks, the only incident of note during a turgid second half was the Retford equalizer; Hale spilling what should have been a comfortable catch and allowing a Retford player to tap the ball into the net from close range. Richie Allen, Mickey Saunders and the fit again Andy Bell were thrown on as replacements for defenders Phil Robinson, midfielder Ciaran Donnelly and winger Lennie Reid as manager Tony Greenwood went for broke.

Allen added some zip down the left and Saunders went close with a shot from just outside the box but in truth neither side looked capable of breaking the deadlock. Pond was the man of the match with a typically combative, all action display. Skipper Ricky Mercer and Foster also impressed in a match which will not live long in the memory.

Fleetwood Town Team: Hale, Robinson (Allen), Peatfield, Gray, Mercer, Pond, Reid (Bell), Donnelly (Saunders), Foster, Denney, Walmsley. Subs Not Used: Smith (GK), Moran.