Mickleover travelled to Ewen Fields on Saturday afternoon for their match against Hyde United. Sports boss John McGrath put out a strong team sticking with a 4-4-2 formation of Lewis King in goal, the back four consisting of Jake Scott on the left wing and Mason Warren on the right wing and Ben Turner joining Tom Burgin in centre defence, the middle four consisting of Oli Roberts on the left and new Sports signing Ted Cribley on the right and central midfield consisting of Ricky Ravenhill and John McGrath and Isa Marselia and Evan Garnett making the two front strikers. On the bench consisted of Jimmy Phillips, Curtis Burrows, Pablo mills, Tyreece Robinson and Nathan Jarman.
First half was disappointing for Sports as Hyde produced chance after chance but it was the excellent work of Sports goalkeeper Lewis King. On the 11th minute, Hyde almost made it 1-0 and King nearly got lobbed but his effort kept the ball out and kept the score at 0-0. On the 16th minute, Hyde had another chance but took a deflection from Sports defender Tom Burgin and went out for a corner.
Hyde eventually got on the scoreboard on the 21st minute. Tom Greaves played it to Like Porritt and Porritt fired it past Lewis King to give Hyde the lead. On the 34th minute, a huge chance came for sports to equalise. Evan Garnett has the ball and was running towards goal but cut inside on both occasions and the ball was cleared by Hyde’s goalkeeper. Garnett has another chance of goal on the 42nd minute but is saved by the keeper. Hyde doubled their lead in added time from a corner. Hyde player Grant Roberts passed the ball to Tom Greaves and struck the ball in the net. Half Time, Hyde United 2-0 Mickleover Sports.
At half time, Sports boss John McGrath made all three subs with Tom Burgin, Isa Marselia and Oli Roberts coming off and Jimmy Phillips, Nathan Jarman and Pablo Mills coming on. During the second half, sports started to fight for a goal. In the 51st minute, a cross comes to an unmarked Nathan Jarman and headers the ball to goal but is saved by the keeper. A minute later, Hyde take their opportunity to bag in another goal from a corner but goes out wide of the left hand post.
A goal did come for sports in the 59th minute. A corner is awarded for sports and sports boss John McGrath took the corner. Cribley had the ball and passed to Ben Turner and headers it into the bottom left corner. Sports continued to fight for an equaliser throughout the remaining time of the second half. On the 64th minute, sports were awarded a free kick. John McGrath took the free kick and is headed on by Pablo Mills whose shot was saved by the keeper lobbing it over the bar. On the 67th minute, Jimmy Phillips could have equaliser but his strike was saved by the keeper.
On the 86th minute. Sports had another opportunity. Jimmy Phillips struck the ball from outside the box to goal but the ball goes over the bar. Referee blew his whistle. FT Hyde United 2-1 Mickleover Sports.
Written by Kerry Goldsworthy.