by Peter Scherer (Photography: Steve Ingers)
Just as Mickleover looked to be cruising to a comfortable 2-0 win at Bamber Bridge, two late goals from Lucas Weaver salvaged a point for the hosts.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Charlie Hickingbottom 5-Danny Benson 6- George Taft 7-Dylan Edwards 8- Cieron Keane 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Fin Ryder, Kieren Flavell, Justin Iwobi, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Callum Moore.
It was flying start for the hosts, going close twice in the first five minutes. Firstly Baxter was left in space, but his shot struck the right hand post, before Potts shot wide after three minutes.
Then only two minutes later Weaver fired in a low shot after getting around the back of the defence, but his effort was just wide of the left-hand post.
Sports came into the game with Wilson having a crack after 13 minutes, closely followed Edwards firing over, after a through ball from Beavon.
Beavon then went close himself 25 minutes in, beating the offside trap, his shot was palmed away by keeper Pradic. Only a minute later Dales went 1 on 1, trying to chip the keeper, his shot was just beyond the right-hand post.
But Bamber Bridge came back fighting too, with Danny Edwards firing over the bar, before Barnes charged free and tried to lob Pradic. It was just wide to, but then Edwards fired inn another shot just over.
31 minutes and Potts looked set to open the scoring for the hosts after a great ball from Churchman, until a fumble left his tamer than expected effort firmly in Sports keeper Mersin’s hands.
Dales tried a long shot after 43 minutes, deflected for a corner by Grand and so the half time whistle blew and remained 0-0.
Bamber Bridge started the second half on the attack, with Potts finding Edwards. He picked out Baxter in space, who fed Weaver, but the result was a corner.
Finally the deadlock was broken after 54 minutes when a Beavon header came back off the bar, and Barnes was on hand to slot it home, 1-0.
Two minutes later Keane nearly made it two, but Pradic saved and set up a Bamber counter attack, which ended with Weaver overrunning the ball.
Churchman shot wide for the hosts after a 58th minute free kick, but on the hour Sports skipper Wilson made it 2-0, beating Pradic to fire home his free kick into the top left-hand corner.
Wilson went close again with another free kick only five minutes later, before Edwards’ follow up header went over. Hasler-Creg tried a shot easily taken by Mersin, just before Iwobi came on for Edwards after 74 minutes.
Mersin was in action again after 79 minutes with a terrific save from Potts’ close range effort and the Iwobi had a good chance of a Mickleover third, but shot over from close range.
Into the last 10 minutes Mickleover were on the defensive with Potts making a header only just off target after 88 minutes.
Sports defence weren’t so fortunate at the end of the 90 minutes, when Weaver outpaced the defence and placed his shot over Mersin, 2-1.
Five minutes into time added on and it got worse, when a great cross from Broadbank found Weaver unmarked on the back post, and from 2-0 and was 2-2 with final whistle blowing.
“They had the first 10 minutes and hit the post, but from then it was all us. I’m angry and frustrate, as we deserved a lot more. Then two sloppy errors costs us another win on the run,” said manager Gareth Holmes.
