by Peter Scherer
It was need to win match for Mickleover as they travelled to Hebburn Town for their penultimate away game of the season. They came away with a 1-1 draw, which confirms relegation to one of the regional NPL Division One Leagues.
Starting line-up: 1- Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Tom Senior 7-Andy Dales 8-Curtis Weston 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Gaby Adebambo 11-Kwaku Donkor. Subs: Brandon Ferron, Cieron Keane, Bernard Nsiah, Marcus Barnes, Michael Hollingsworth.
It was a difficult start for Mickleover, as they were almost immediately under attack from their hosts. It was only nine minutes into the game when Posthill’s cross was slotted home at point blank range by Gomes, to make it 0-1.
But just seven minutes later a reckless challenge from Thompson on Atkinson earned him a straight red card, from when Sports responded to chase for the equaliser.
19 minutes gone and Adebambo made a break and went close, but a minute later the midfielder went clear again, placing his effort neatly past keeper Cameron to make it 1-1.
Cameron denied Mickleover again after 24 minutes, before Adebambo went close after 37 minutes, this time just wide of the left-hand post, before a following shot was blocked by Elsdon, before Cameron picked up the rebound.
Barnes replaced Adebambo for the second half, but it was Beavon next to test the home keeper. He forced a 52nd minute save from Cameron, just after Keane had come on for Atkinson.
But Hebburn had chances too, when Murray sent a long shot sailing past the left-hand post after 63 minutes.
Nsiah then replaced Donkor a couple of minutes later, but it was Hebburn following up with another missed opportunity. Mersin saved from Turner and just three minutes later he came out on top again when Murray lost out in a one on one.
Ferron was late sub for Beavon but it remained 1-1 and consigned Mickleover to relegation from the NPL Premier Division.