by Peter Scherer
Two second half goals from Manni Norkett made sure all three points came back to Mickleover, after our 2-1 win at Coventry Utd.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Darryl Powell 3-Sam Sanders 4-Will Atkinson 5-Josh Ashman 6-George Wilkinson 7-Theo Rowe; 8-Cieron Keane 9-Harvey Smith 10-Jude Taylor 11-Kane Richards. Subs: Manni Norkett; Josh Carter; Brad Lathall; Yerim Zoko.
It was another lively start from Mickleover, with Taylor making a second minute interception only for his cross to miss Smith’s head by inches. Skipper Atkinson then charged forward only to be blocked on the edge of the box.
A minute later Richards and Smith combined only for the final strike to be blocked again.
Coventry then made their first break, a first test for the revised back four of Powell, Ashman, Wilkinson and Sanders. The cross came in but there was no one on the receiving end and it was easily cleared.
Smith tried his luck again after 12 minutes, but it was a routine catch for the home keeper.
After the initial pressure from Mickleover, the game began to even out more. But despite some positive build up’s neither keeper was seriously tested. McDowell made a comfortable save after 15 minutes and then Rowe outpaced the defence again on the left, but his cross was just out of reach of both Richards and Smith.
Our hosts had their first real shot after 20 minutes, but that was blocked and then cleared. But Coventry then tried a random shot, easily caught by McDowell.
Richards went close in the 24th minute, beating the defence on the right, despite being pulled back by his shirt and arm. He cut inside and tried to place his shot, only for the keeper to save with his feet.
Keane tested the keeper again after 34 minutes, but his long range effort was palmed away as Mickleover were finishing the first half positively.
Richards went close again with four minutes left, dispossessing the defence, he shot just wide of the left-hand post. But the first period ended 0-0 after a lengthy build-up ended with another Keane longshot as the whistle was poised.
There were no changes at half time but it didn’t go well for Sports following the restart. Just two minutes had gone when the ball came into the Mickleover box from the right, falling nicely for Cobourne, who beat McDowell from close range 0-1.
The goal seemed momentarily to upset the balance in defence and Coventry went close again two minutes later.
After earning a 52 minute free kick, Keane curled the kick crossfield to find Taylor, whose strike was just wide.
McDowell made another comfortable save three minutes later, before Rowe was sent on a long run deep into the box, but it proved too long and his path was blocked before he could shoot.
Just before the hour mark the first change was made with Norkett on for Richards. But it was Rowe testing the home defence again, his cross from the left finding Taylor again, who was unable to target his shot this time.
Taylor was beginning to run at the defence more and was fouled again as he charged through the middle on the hour. Keane once again curled in the free kick, but it was straight out of play.
Two more changes were made as Carter and Lathall came on for Powell and Taylor and within a minute Carter had made his presence felt. He took on the defence down the right, sending his cross into crowded box. Norkett was quickest to respond and sent his toe poke just wide of the keeper to make it 1-1.
Norkett almost got his second a minute later after Sanders put him through on the left. Cutting inside from the wing in a solo effort, his shot bounced off the top of the bar and out for goal kick.
Mickleover continued to press forward and when Rowe fired in a cross from the left, it not only beat the defence but our strike force too, as it rolled across the face of the goal.
But Coventry missed a golden chance for their second after 70 minutes and tested McDowell again four minutes later, who saved comfortably.
Norkett’s pace continued to torment the home defence, and he was hacked down just outside the box after 76 minutes. The free kick was headed away for a corner, which preceded a scramble in the box before Keane found Lathall, whose shot was blocked.
With just two minutes left Norkett attacked again on the left. An initial cross was cleared, but it fell to Carter on the right. His precision cross then found Norkett’s head on the left of the box, it was his and Mickleover’s second and sealed a 2-1 victory.
We take a short break from league action, as we travel to Grantham for our FA Trophy tie on Saturday and then welcome Loughborough Students to the Vibrant Doors Arena on Monday.
