by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Despite an overall improvement from last weeks defeat at Worksop, promotion pushing Guiseley once again proved too much for a struggling Mickleover side.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2- Kwaku Donkor 3-Brandon Ferron 4- Gaby Adebambo 6-George Wilkinson 6-Will Atkinson 7-Marcus Barnes 8-Michael Hollingsworth 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Cieron Keane 11-Josh Maskall. Subs: Jake Bennett, Dylan Edwards, Bernard Nsiah, Josh Carter.
Mickleover took the kick off and there was an immediate free kick to Guiseley.
But two minutes in Ferron and Adebambo combined for the first attack, but that was easily cleared. Just a minute later a poor clearance from our hosts , then set up the first shot, which went well wide of the target.
Guiseley then had their first attack, but a strong interception by Sports defence then sent Barnes on a break, only for that to be intercepted too.
Atkinson made a couple of clearances as Guiseley continued to push forward and fired a half chance over the bar, before Adebambo returned the favour, setting up Beavon, who earned the first corner after six minutes, headed away by Brown.
Both sides had breaks and as Mickleover attempted to move forward again, Adebambo did his best to create some space in the middle.
Both Atkinson and Wilkinson played some nice balls out of defence, before Brown tried a similar long ball for Guiseley, which was easily intercepted again.
Although Sports defence were coping, each ball cleared was coming straight back, with fairly sustained attacks from the hosts.
Atkinson made a half clearance after 10 minutes, but it came straight back again with Ible going close. The ball then fell to Lawlor, but his ball for Emmett was too long and Mersin collected.
Two minutes later Barnes put a powerful shot just wide, before Guiseley tried another long ball, to which Mickleover’s response was positive.
Barnes had the ball in the net after 13 minutes, but was deemed offside and then Donkor had a couple of useful runs down the right, but each resulted in another Guiseley break.
Ferron then brought out the ball from the next attack, but his progress was thwarted. Guiseley then won a free kick, but despite it failing to trouble Sports defence, the pressure continued.
19 minutes and Mickleover’s defence was finally breached, when Ekpolo put the ball inside for Emmett, who took his time to place it past Mersin, 0-1.
But Sports still tried to push forward, with Hollingsworth trying a couple of moves, without success. Keeper Cracknell then made a 24th minute save from Barnes, which was eventually cleared and started another break, ending with Mbeke and Mersin colliding with a free kick to Mickleover.
Emmett and Mbeke combined effectively again, with the former’s cross earning a corner. As that curled in Ridehalgh put his effort just wide.
Mickleover were still looking for the breaks too and when Ekpolo gave the ball away after 28 minutes, Barnes had a run until that was stopped in its tracks.
Witham had a half chance for the hosts on the half hour, but despite having space, he failed to maximise the opportunity. Then another curling cross into a crowded box found Moke, but his attempt was straight into Mersin hands.
Another Emmett cross nearly found Mbeke, before Atkinson intercepted, but the pressure was all on Sports again. Lawlor then went close after being put through by Moke, before Mersin finally claimed it after an Ekpolo shot.
Mickleover finally broke again when Keane picked up a loose ball, but his final shot failed to trouble to Cracknell.
As Mbeke and Witham continued to cause trouble, Ferron managed a break to find Beavon, but that came to nought, while Donkor had a couple of useful runs, before his cross to Beavon failed to connect.
Ible shot wide again after 38 minutes, and with two minutes of the first half left, Beavon found Maskall , only for Ible to intercept again. His long ball was stopped by Donkor, but then Emmett had another distance shot blocked.
Barnes had another run on goal but Ible blocked, before Keane floated in a cross for Maskall, which Cracknell collected.
Sports won a late free kick after Adebambo was fouled, but the curling kick aimed for Beavon was cleared and so it remained 0-1 as the whistle went.
Barnes took an early knock as the second half got underway with a fairly even restart. Sports defence was still looking reasonably strong, but creativity was still lacking further forward.
Mersin made another save after 50 minutes after a Brown build up found Witham and then Keane picked up a loose ball with Maskall earning a corner. Barnes was unmarked but as the corner curled in, it was half cleared. Ferron and Adebambo combined to find Beavon , but Emmett managed to get the ball away again.
Barnes earned another corner, which went straight out of play, but fortunately Guiseley weren’t maximising their possession after some positive build ups.
Ferron showed his pace with a run to the edge of the box after 56 minutes, until Brown stopped him, but the hosts retaliated with Witham breaking, before a Ridehalgh, Witham combination was cleared.
But almost on the hour Mbeke made it 0-2 with a powerful header after a corner, before a triple substitution brought Bennett, Edwards and Nsiah on for Adebambo, Maskall and Beavon.
Both Donkor and Ferron began to use the wings more as Mickleover continued to show some fighting spirit, despite between two goals down.
65 minutes and Mbeke was one on one with Mersin, with Sports keeper fortunately coming out on top. But just a minute later there was a third for Guiseley when Emmett was pushed lightly from behind by Keane and the referee pointed to the spot. Mersin chose the right way for Mbeke’s kick, but the power made it 0-3.
Carter and Nsiah were late subs for Mickleover, Mersin made a few more saves in the final 15 minutes and almost at the death Barnes had a shot saved after a pass from Bennett.
