By Peter Scherer
You could call it a six pointer, but Dylan Edwards’ injury time goal, restored Mickleover to winning ways as Basford Utd visited the Don Amott Arena on a wintry night.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3- Kieran Cooney 4-Curtis Weston 5-Danny Benson 6-Will Atkinson 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Jamie Soule. Subs: Stefan Galinski, Andrew Buah, Cieron Keane, Dylan Edwards, Brandon Ferron.
With a snow shower just before kick-off and zero temperatures, it was a difficult start for both teams, both desperately seeking points.
It was Mickleover that started with pace and confidence, keeping Basford on the back foot from the start. Just four minutes in and Dales cut in from the left, but fired the first shot of the game just wide of Deeney’s left-hand post.
Two minutes later Wilson’s cross almost found Barnes in the box, but as he slid in Deeney was quick to collect.
Dales soon led another good build up and once again cut inside from the left, but his shot was saved again by Deeney and collected at the second attempt.
A short corner on the left went to waste after 10 minutes, but Mickleover continued to attack the visiting defence, with Bennett sending in a telling cross from the right, before it was cleared.
Basford had a good chance after 15 minutes, when Chambers was left in acres of space, but his rushed shot was well off target and failed to test Mersin.
A minute later Mersin was in action, as he had to tip over a dangerous that had skimmed off Weston’s head. But thefollowing corner was easily dealt with, before Hallam had another shot blocked for the visitors.
Atkinson was not only leading the defensive line, but getting in on the attacks too. His dogged perseverance found Beavon, but the 20th minute shot was saved.
Basford had another distance shot well over the bar two minutes later, before Hallam had another shot blocked.Mickleover then got a break though but Soule’s cross went straight out of play.
As Sports hadn’t been able to maximise their possession advantage, Basford began to grow in confidence, but from both sides many of the passes were going awry in the conditions.
39 minutes gone and a lovely ball down the middle from Weston found Soule, but the curving shot was well off target again.
With half-time approaching, Soule found Dales, his shot was blocked, but the following corner went straight out of play on the other side, so it remained 0-0 after the first 45.
There were no immediate changes for the second half, but Basford started to push forward more, with Mickleover looking for the long ball and breaks.
Dales had a run after 53 minutes, but his pass to Bennett went stray and then Soule, Dales and Beavon were all in the thick of it, but had efforts blocked.
Buah replaced Barnes on the hour, just before Mersin had to make a brave save with his feet to keep Basford at bay.
For a while Mickleover were pegged back in their own half, but the back four of Bennett, Benson, Atkinson and Brown, were coping with everything Basford threw at them.
Sports second sub was made with Edwards on for Soule and Basford started using up their subs too, before having another shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Edwards battled his way into the box after 80 minutes, but had his initial shot and rebound both blocked. Threesuccessive corners followed, with Atkinson heading just wide of the left-hand post.
Mersin easily dealt with a long shot after 85 minutes, before Edwards returned the favour at the other end.
Keane was the third sub when he replaced Beavon, but it was Edwards leading the charge again. He found Buah in the box, but Deeney made the save.
Just when it appeared to be heading for goalless draw, Butterfield attempted a back pass to Deeney, but left the keeper short. Edwards dashed in, outpaced the pursuing defender and carefully slotted the ball beyond the advancing Deeney and it was 1-0.
“It was nice to get that feeling again, as I hadn’t scored for a while. I saw their player was facing the keeper when he passed back, and I chase whenever I come on and just gambled on the shot as the keeper came at me,” said Edwards.
There was barely time for the restart when the final whistle went, so two games unbeaten and two clean sheets, as Mickleover look forward to Saturday’s trip to Worksop.
