by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
After Mickleover had battled back to level terms following a first half goal from Hyde Utd, they once again succumbed to a late goal.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Will Atkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Dylan Edwards 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Cieron Keane 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Andy Dales, Callum Moore, Brandon Ferron, George Taft, Stuart Beavon.
The visitors were quickly on the attack from the start, when Drew Baker led an attack in the first minute. Jack Redshaw then sent debutant Ewan Bange through a couple of minutes later, but Mersin made a great stop, charging off his line to spread his frame on the edge of the box.
Mersin was forced to make another save after 10 minutes, when Kershaw cracked a shot in following a corner, but even the Mickleover’s keepers heroics couldn’t stop Bange in the 14th minute. Harry Ditchfield had sent a ball Crossfield to Redshaw, who found Bange in the box for an easy tap in, 0-1.
It wasn’t long before Mersin was busy again, holding a long shot from Matt Fearnley, but 23 minutes in and it was Mickleover’s turn to go close, when Barnes’ effort went just wide of the right-hand post.
But Hyde continued to be strong in attack and Mersin was forced to punch another effort from Redshaw over the bar four minutes later, soon followed by a shot just wide from Baker, as Sports struggled to clear their lines.
But Mickleover went close again on the half hour, when Hickingbottom headed over from a Wilson free kick. 10 minutes later Hickingbottom was on the end of another Wilson free kick, but his shot went over from close range.
So 0-1 it was at half time but Sports made two changes, with Dales and Taft on for Davidson-Miller and Keane.
Early into the second half Dales’ pace started to challenge the visitors defence, he had a shot wide after 51 minutes and three minutes later another effort was deflected out.
But Mersin had been forced to make yet another save from Redshaw on is near post, before a spectacular overhead kick from Bange, rattled the Mickleover bar after 58 minutes.
Sports perseverance finally paid off though, when Benson got on the end of an Atkinson cross to force the equaliser in the 68th minute. 1-1.
Hyde continued to look dangerous as Mickleover sought to look after the valuable home point, but Jones-Griffiths had a shot blocked too.
Hickingbottom was yellow carded after 74 minutes and shortly afterwards replaced by Ferron. Hyde still had their eye on three points though and Mersin was forced to tip over again from an 83rd Connor Heath free kick.
A minute later though a long throw from Ditchfield was headed back in by Heath, finding Baker who fired home the winner into the bottom corner, 1-2.
Moore was a late sub for Edwards, but it was virtually all over with a disappointing home defeat. With another late goal proving costly. The last three games having lost a possible five points, which would have had Sports fourth in the table
Mickleover now drop to 11th in the table, with a trip to 12th place Stockton next Saturday.
