Rossington Main hope for Halloween treat at Retford United

Rossington Main will be hoping it’s more treat than trick as they travel to Cannon Park to face Retford United in Saturday’s Halloween clash.

Ben Hunter and Greg Young’s side are targeting a third win in seven days after casting aside high-flyers Bottesford Town last weekend and progressing to the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup quarter-finals with a midweek victory over Dinnington Town.

The Bottesford win kept Rossington in the play-off picture, setting up an enticing fixture against a Retford United side currently occupying the division’s final play-off spot.

Rossington could be without club captain and joint top scorer Reece Fielding, who was forced off just 15 minutes into Tuesday’s cup win after a high challenge on the centre half that resulted in a penalty.

At the other end of the pitch, Rossington have improved their attacking output, averaging two goals per game across their six October fixtures. This has coincided with the arrival of Rob Guilfoyle from Hallam, who has scored four times in five league appearances.

Oli Nowak, the latest to make a century of appearances for Main, has also found his shooting boots this month, scoring three times in six appearances, including a brace in the impressive 4-0 victory over runaway leaders Dearne & District.

Retford United have taken to life in the NCEL Premier Division like a duck to water following back-to-back promotions under Ryan Hindley, collecting 26 points from their opening 16 games.

The Badgers’ strong start will not deter Rossington, though, who have dropped just six points against the league’s current top-half sides, collecting 12 points with only Retford FC, Barton Town and Saturday’s opponents still to face.

However, recent results have been mixed following Hindley’s departure for Ilkeston Town at the start of the month. His assistant Jas Colliver has stepped up to the managerial role, suffering cup defeats against Northwich Victoria and Bottesford before securing his first win at the weekend as United held on for a 3-2 victory over out-of-sorts Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

Despite the change in the dugout, The Badgers remain stern opposition, having lost just once in 11 league matches and boasting the division’s fifth-best defensive record.

Saturday’s fixture will mark the first meeting between the sides since the 2017/18 season, when both plyed their trade in the NCEL Division One, each taking three points across the two encounters.