by Peter Scherer (Photos: Steve Ingers)
Mickleover went down 1-4 to Barnsley’s Under 21’s, in their final home game of the pre-season campaign.
Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Josh Carter 3-Liam Carter 4-Will Atkinson 5-Ashton Offler 6-GeorgeWilkinson 7-Ryan Wilson 8-Harry Wood 9-Trialist A 10-Andy dales 11-Trialist B. Subs: Paddy Webb, Jake Bennett & Trialists C,D & E.
It was end to end from the kick-off, with Wood having the first shot for Mickleover just wide after three minutes. Two minutes later Barnsley got a break, and despite being pursued by Wilkinson,their shot was wide too.
Just after another Mickleover effort was blocked on the left, Liam Carter earned the first corner of the game, after he forced the visitors keeper into a good save, having picked up a telling pass from Wood.
Another Barnsley break fizzled out after nine minutes, but could have had another chance 10 minutes later, following a corner in a crowded home box. The combination of Wilkinson and Offler cleared the threat, but it continued to be end to end. Trialist B put a nice long ball through for Liam Carter to chase after 26 minutes, his cross was collected by Atkinson, but the final effort was blocked. Just a minute later Trialist B was in the action again, but his shot sailed well over the bar. Mickleover were unlucky not to take the lead on the half hour, after Trialist A spotted the Barnsley keeper well off his line. The following lob looked set for the right-hand top corner, but somehow the keeper managed to race back and get a fingertip touch for a corner.
Sports were having more attacking possession, but Barnsley continued to look dangerous on the breaks. Another corner came to nought for Mickleover, before Trialist B and Liam Carter combined well on the left. Trialist B then cut in again from the left, hitting the far post, after a deflection put the ball out for a corner.
Bosworth then made a save with his feet as Barnsley threatened, but just a minute later the visitors opened the scoring, when a rebound off the post fell nicely to make it 0-1. Right on half time Barnsley hit a second, but the long ball over the defence looked borderline offside. But it was enough to send Sports off for half time 0-2 down, with not even enough time to restart.
More Trialists came off the subs bench for the second half, but Barnsley immediately looked hungry to add to their goal tally, with a 47th minute shot over the bar.
Mickleover had another shot saved after 52 minutes, before Bennett came on for Offler. But after some good work by Trialist B, another Trialist striker had a good chance to pull a goal back, but failed to get a shot in. Webb replaced Dales after 61 minutes and was soon taking on the visiting defence. He sent over a cross from the right seven minutes later, but Trlalist B shot into the side netting.
Bosworth then made a save close range, before Wood pulled a goal back. Following a corner, Webb had possession, and fired another cross into the box, finding Wood to strike it home, 1-3. Only two minutes had gone since the Mickleover goal and Barnsley restored their two three goal lead. Wilkinson pulled a striker down in the box, and the visitors made no mistake from the spot 1-4. Wood put another 79th minute shot over, before Sport s won a free kick, which went straight into keepers waiting arms.
Webb had another strike straight at the keeper, before his strong running on the right set up Wood again, earning a late corner from a deflection. Mickleover finished strongly but had to accept the 1-4 defeat, even though it may have flattered our visitors a little.
